I was asked today where bees live in the wild.We have both seen the wasps
nests(bikes) but not bees ones.I could not give an answer ,hope someone in
the group can .

In article ,
"Tab" writes:
|
| I was asked today where bees live in the wild.We have both seen the wasps
| nests(bikes) but not bees ones.I could not give an answer ,hope someone in
| the group can .

Which bees? Honey bees live in holes in old trees, caves etc., and are
very happy with attics, disused chimneys etc. Bumble and other solitary
and semi-solitary bees may do the same (but need less space) or make nests
in the ground.

We had a wild bees' nest in a disused chimney for a long time, and have
bumble bees' nests in the lawn (where we have naturalised bulbs, so do
not mow it close) and under trees most years. So do many people, even
those who don't notice them :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Tab wrote:

I was asked today where bees live in the wild.We have both seen the wasps
nests(bikes) but not bees ones.I could not give an answer ,hope someone in
the group can .

Partly it depends on the type of bee, but generally a lot of the same
sorts of places as wasps. I'm fairly sure there's a bumble bee nest in
a hollow sycamore tree next to my veggie plot, but the only honey bees
I know about are in my beehive. It's believed wild honey bee colonies
don't last very long these days. Mason bees will take up residence in
all sorts of nooks and crannies, AIUI, depending on the exact variety.

James

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...
Tab wrote:

I was asked today where bees live in the wild.We have both seen the wasps
nests(bikes) but not bees ones.I could not give an answer ,hope someone
in
the group can .

Partly it depends on the type of bee, but generally a lot of the same
sorts of places as wasps. I'm fairly sure there's a bumble bee nest in
a hollow sycamore tree next to my veggie plot, but the only honey bees
I know about are in my beehive. It's believed wild honey bee colonies
don't last very long these days. Mason bees will take up residence in
all sorts of nooks and crannies, AIUI, depending on the exact variety.

James
Thanks both for your repliesI did say to person who asked me that I thought
I had seen
Bumbles come out of holes in the ground

Tab writes

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...
Tab wrote:

I was asked today where bees live in the wild.We have both seen the wasps
nests(bikes) but not bees ones.I could not give an answer ,hope someone
in
the group can .

Partly it depends on the type of bee, but generally a lot of the same
sorts of places as wasps. I'm fairly sure there's a bumble bee nest in
a hollow sycamore tree next to my veggie plot, but the only honey bees
I know about are in my beehive. It's believed wild honey bee colonies
don't last very long these days. Mason bees will take up residence in
all sorts of nooks and crannies, AIUI, depending on the exact variety.

James
Thanks both for your repliesI did say to person who asked me that I thought
I had seen
Bumbles come out of holes in the ground

We were mooching around some limestone pavement yesterday and saw a
great many bumblebees (and other bees) coming out of holes in the
ground. Not nesting, though - they were diving down the grykes after the
various plants that were in flower, disappearing underground, with their
buzzing re-echoing around the hole they were in, then reappearing from a
completely different entrance.


--
Kay

[
We were mooching around some limestone pavement yesterday and saw a
great many bumblebees (and other bees) coming out of holes in the
ground. Not nesting, though - they were diving down the grykes after the
various plants that were in flower, disappearing underground, with their
buzzing re-echoing around the hole they were in, then reappearing from a
completely different entrance.


--
Is it possible that what you saw were mining bees? i was watching a load of these in my garden the other day. there are lots and lots of entrances. I am told they have a sting but it is very ineffectual.

mrs-baggins writes

[
We were mooching around some limestone pavement yesterday and saw a
great many bumblebees (and other bees) coming out of holes in the
ground. Not nesting, though - they were diving down the grykes after
the
various plants that were in flower, disappearing underground, with
their
buzzing re-echoing around the hole they were in, then reappearing from
a
completely different entrance.


--
Is it possible that what you saw were mining bees?

Not the slightest possibility.

--
Kay

In article ,
K writes:
| mrs-baggins writes
|
| Is it possible that what you saw were mining bees?
|
| Not the slightest possibility.

Anyway, as I posted, bumble bees usually nest in the ground.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren writes

In article ,
K writes:
| mrs-baggins writes
|
| Is it possible that what you saw were mining bees?
|
| Not the slightest possibility.

Anyway, as I posted, bumble bees usually nest in the ground.

These weren't nesting or nest visiting - it was purely that they were
chasing pollen on effectively subterranean plants (any plants which put
their heads up above the surface get scrunched by the sheep). If you
recall, I was talking about the grykes in limestone pavement - we're
talking about crevices about 6 inches wide going down anything from a
few inches to several feet.
--
Kay

In article ,
K writes:
|
| These weren't nesting or nest visiting - it was purely that they were
| chasing pollen on effectively subterranean plants (any plants which put
| their heads up above the surface get scrunched by the sheep). If you
| recall, I was talking about the grykes in limestone pavement - we're
| talking about crevices about 6 inches wide going down anything from a
| few inches to several feet.

Which are ideal locations for nest sites. But, yes, if there are flowers
(or water) in those, they might go there for that reason, too.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.