Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE => Topic started by: boners4bees on July 09, 2010, 12:02:35 AM

Title: Explain this... carpenter bee mass suicide
Post by: boners4bees on July 09, 2010, 12:02:35 AM
I have a wooden porch swing that some carpenter bees have been living in for a while. They never bothered us once. Recently we found about a dozen of them lying (mostly on their backs) dead under the swing. We have absolutely no idea what happened and I can't find anything regarding it online. Could you help explain this weird phenomenon of a mini bee-jonestown massacre.
Title: Re: Explain this... carpenter bee mass suicide
Post by: hardwood on July 09, 2010, 12:11:02 AM
I don't know where you're located (profile update would help *hint*) but that happens here quite a bit. I've seen them fighting at certain times...maybe it was an all-out war?

Scott
Title: Re: Explain this... carpenter bee mass suicide
Post by: lisascenic on July 09, 2010, 12:42:02 AM
Neighbors with insecticide?

Short life spans?
Title: Re: Explain this... carpenter bee mass suicide
Post by: jgaito on July 09, 2010, 09:19:31 AM
normal life span.  at some point they start dropping like flies.   unless they happen upon my b***h hive where they are
quickly dispatched by the girls.   :-D
Title: Re: Explain this... carpenter bee mass suicide
Post by: AllenF on July 09, 2010, 03:44:54 PM
Maybe the swing is made from treaded wood?