Tree bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum)

We remove and relocate tree bumblebees from accessible locations in roofs, bird boxes tumble drier outlets and other interesting places.

 

Current best practice advice for dealing with Tree Bumblebees is if possible to leave the nest in situ.
Alternatively if it has the potential to be problematic then the preferred method is to remove and relocate the nest.
Final option is for the nest to be destroyed.

 

Tree Bumblebees in roof

We locate tree bumblebee nests in places such as roof spaces using a thermal image camera from beneath the ceiling and our nose and eyes when in the roof space. The thermal imager does not always find the nest if it is hidden deep within insulation, but when it does it saves time trying to hunt the nest down. Otherwise we rely on our eyes and nose, it’s surprising how aware of the smell of a tree bumble bee nest you can become and how useful that sense is when tracking down the whereabouts of a tree bumblebee nest.

 

Live removal and relocation of Tree Bumble Bees

Having found the nest we will collect it along with as many returning tree bees as we can and relocate it, often to a local farm or back garden. We do this carefully with the aid of a special light as they tend to be attracted to fluorescent light especially when stirred up.

They have a nasty sting or at least we react badly to their stings – far more so than a honeybee sting.

Research suggests that the tree bumblebee are particularly hardy, and from our experience we would agree – we have great success in relocating these bumble bees, they are far easier and more robust than our native bumblebees.

 

Identifying Tree bumblebees

Usually people only realise that there is a tree bumblebee nest in their property they spot the males dancing outside the entrance point into the nesting site. Tree bumblebees may nest 5 metres or more from the actual entrance point into the roof space.

These male (drone) tree bumble bees are trying to gain the attention of the new queens that are produced by a nest.

It can be quite difficult to distinguish the Tree bumblebees from other types of native bumblebees, as bumblebee nests are made up of different bees that have different roles, the three main roles being , workers (10 to 16mm long), drones ( males, 10 to 16mm long) and queens (they produce lots of them, and can be as long as 22mm).

The colour pattern is a good way of identifying them and is basically orange (head), black and white tail.

 

To remove or not to remove a nest

In the past we followed the advice of experts, telling our customers and those that called us that the Tree Bumblebees where best left in situ undisturbed and that they would cause no harm. We advised them that they were not aggressive and that they would not be around for long.

How wrong were we to do this?

We found that we were getting call-backs telling us that the bumblebees had attacked them for no good reason, despite these tree bumblebee nest entrances being up in the roof far away from any ground activity. We were also finding that nests were lasting for far longer than just a couple of weeks and that they were still producing queens well into autumn.

 

OUR BEST ADVICE

Relocate the nest if you are at all concerned by it.

We believe that at certain periods of nest activity that the Tree bumblebees can become highly defensive and can be triggered by the slightest thing. We also believe that a Tree bumblebee nest will regularly produce two, and possibly 3 or more prodigy over its life period.

 

Exterminate Tree Bumblebees

We rarely kill of a tree bumblebee nest only doing so if it is a clear danger to those around it and it is not possible to relocate it; for example in a cavity wall near a busy entrance or exit to a property.

 

Favoured spots of Tree Bumblebee Nests

Without doubt by far and away the most common spot that we come across Tree bumblebees is a roof space. After that it is holes in wall cavities, Bird boxes and washing machine vents.

 

Ecology

Experts advise that Tree bumblebees are not as yet an invasive species, and are not a danger to our ecosystem. I struggle with this considering the speed at which they have spread. We are all told that there is insufficient native flowers for our pollinators so how can these bumblebees be a bonus to our system.

However being the professional business that we are we keep our personal thoughts out of it and do the best job that we can, which in this case is to remove and relocate the bees as quickly as we can. No doubt sometime in the future it will be decided that these bumblebees are having a devastating impact but it’s too late to do anything about it.