Hello everyone!
The other day I noticed a scout buzzing about inspecting holes and cracks around the front of my home. I commented to my wife that there was probably a swarm near by and that it was too bad that I don't have any bee keeping gear.
Then, yesterday I was working on my wrecked VW Rabbit when I noticed a little honey bee kept buzzing by my ear and going up inside the engine compartment.
I got excited, so I scooted my head up under the car where I could see better. The bees were going in and out around the transmission mount, so thinking I had a small swarm, I went and purchased a hive.
I then carefully removed the mount to expose the "nest" just to see that it was only about 4 bees building clay looking cells full of yellow pollen. There was no nest or queen... I went to look again after dark and there were no bees at all.
Does this indicate there is a swarm near by? If so, how do I go about finding it?
I've never kept bees but have been around them... my grandfather used to keep them.
Correction: I went back after dark and there is one bee in there. It didn't care much for the light but I got a few pictures.
(I guess the pictures will come later... )
They aren't great... I had to use a small mirror because of the way they are in there.
I've never heard of honey bees doing this... but I figure that is due to my ignorance on the subject.
These are mud daubers, not bees. There are several different varieties of mud daubers. Some sting. Some don't. None make honey. Some eat spiders etc. and some eat pollen.
Crazy Mick
You are Crazy. I would not mess with a muc Dabber. They are the biggest wasp I have ever seen if thats what it is. I would not want to get stung by one of those.
I think this is telling you something though. You are a beekeeper and just dont know it.
Order a package or a nuc. You need bees.
All you need is a bee jscket and gloves for prodtection about $70
You need a smoker and a hive tool for tools. about $40
Bees $100 or less
Beehive $200 buck. Thats two deeps and two honey supers, bottom board, and top cover frames, and foundation
$400 buxks and your a beekeeper budy. You can do it for less if you do your home work.
darn unlucky that you didn't find a swarm. Would have be good to just come across one inside your motorbike!
No, these are honey bees. I know mud daubers... trust me.
I have pictures that will be up whenever someone gets around to posting them for me... since I'm new and all.
They look like European Darks to me.
It's really frustrating to not be able to post pictures!
>building clay looking cells full of yellow pollen. There was no nest or queen...
This is not a description that in any way fits honey bees.
may look simular to a honey bee but i assure you that is not what you saw.
pm a moderator, they will be glad to post them fo you
There are many many types of bees and wasps, there are some bees that use mud similar to a dauber. And those bees will look just like a honeybee to the untrained eye (and often to the trained eye!)
Sounds like a japanese hornfaced bee or a related bee. They look similar to honeybees and use mud in their nest. They are solitary bees, so that is why you wouldn't see any bees around at night.
I don't see your location, but you may be able to get a package or nuc, since you have a hive ready to go.
Rick
Wow! I'd never even heard of hornfaced bees. After reading up on them, that's what they are.
That's why I came here to ask.
Now, I guess I'll buy some bees to go in this box. LOL
Welcome to bee world 101 too one "0h" Fun!!
Enjoy the fun
Can you send a picture to a Mod.
He will post it for you
Tommyt
I put them in one of my FaceBook albums. It's much easier for you to go to my FaceBook page than it is to get someone to post them here for me.
My FaceBook address is in my profile. The album name is "Nature, animals, pets & pests."
By the way, how many posts does it take before this link posting restriction is lifted?
Crazy mick you are a beekeeper i can see you buying one hive and it will be all down hill from there you wont be able to help yourself in this addiciton we call beekeeping welcome :cheer:
LOL. I already bought one. It's sitting in my back yard now. That's what I meant when i said "I guess I'll buy some bees to go in this box."
I bought some Lemongrass Oil today to see if I could attract some bees before i spend $80 on some.
When I get enough posts to prove I'm not here to spam links to my pr0n site, I'll post pictures of it in its new home.
I do have a concern about ants though... I have lots of them.
Sorry to sound like a total newbie.. but why would ants cause a problem? Do honey bees not get on with ants?
I would think that ants would go after the honey, since it's mostly sugar. I might be wrong... but I doubt it. Ants are a giant pain!
they will,but usually the bees keep them at bay. I have read of using cinnamon around the hive to keep them away.
Posting the photos in Facebook might be easier for you, but now I have to register to see them. Um, beyond the idea of that smelling of spam, I don't want to have to look up my faux facebook account to get to them. I have the same problem with my family, who continually send me documents in some obscure format I will either have to buy a program to see, or dig around the Internets looking for a reader!
Hello! Welcome to the world of Beekeeping. One thing, everyone here has a different idea. There is no "graven in stone" way of doing this.
Thanks Capn!
My FaceBook page is open... public. So, you shouldn't have to be a member to see.
Also, if you go to PhotoBucket and do a user search for "wild83hare" you can see it there... It's the first two pictures in the album. Ironically, the crashed car that is in that album is the car that I found them in.
I was thinking of setting the block that holds the hive off of the ground on a bed of ant powder. That should keep the ants out... and i don't think the bees would have a reason to be down there. I'd hate to poison them.
There are many methods beeks can use to control ants w/out poison. Use the search engine on this site for hours of discussion, insight and even some laughs.
Welcome to beekeeping.
Most ant problems are more of a nuisance to beekeepers then bees, fireants being the only exception I know.
thomas
Cool! Thanks for the info Thomas!