Bees

[Mobee]

I saw a bee this morning which reminded me that I had bought a bee box in the winter sales. Problem no instructions, where is the best place to put it? and inside is a small bag of what looks like nesting material and a tube about 6 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, what do I do with them? Does it require any maintenance? Has anyone had any lodgers in a bee box, this is new territory for me.

[adhb13]

I recently got a bee box and the instructions said to site the box in a sunny sheltered spot - on side of house or shed etc. During the winter you can take it down and store it in a garage to protect pupae from extremes of weather and put it out again in March.

[Kerry L]

But we haven't put it up yet. The other year we had red-bottomed bumblebees in a grass bank - very useful distraction when hanging out the washing. They were mostly very polite and waited their turn to go in the hole (except for one that knocked everyone else in the queue flying!) and were not bothered by me walking by the nest. I tend to talk to them too - the neighbours think - OK, they KNOW I am a fruitcake!:D

[Mobee]

Thanks for the advice I have now put my box in a sunny sheltered spot. There are lots of bees around I hope they use it.

[Kerry L]

I have spent most of today rescuing honey bees from indoors - I think they get drunk on our clematis and pop through the window! Then I had to rescue all sorts of bees and parasitic wasps and hover flies from the greenhouse! No sooner did I empty the place, then more flew in - arghh!