Bumble Bees

[Schoon]

I have 2 bumble bees flying around my hive. They seem to hide around back then shoot around front. Are they catching bees or trying to get in the hive.
Thanks

[Highlandsfreedom]

I think its a game of bee tag.  It gets nasty when the wasps want to play....

[Pillpeddler]

Or hornets...  saw that one on Animal Planet ( I think, one of the educational channels ) the hornets were literally tearing the bees apart...   the bees cant sting thru the hornets armor so they monkey pile the hornets and shiver their wings to heat up ...   seems that bees can take a degree or 2 more heat than a hornet and eventually stroke the buggers out.   Once again, God does amazing design work.

Pill

[JP]

There's a good chance what you're seeing might bee carpenter bees.


...JP

[Bee Happy]

I've seen the same thing schoon, they had what appeared to be pollen in their mandibles, but I didn't notice a dash to the front. I've also seen the bees fighting them off (by balling - successfully). even to the degree that I've seen dead bumblers on the ground outside the hive.

[fermentedhiker]

I've had Bumbles engage in robbing at different times through the summer.  If the guard bees are overwhelmed because of forager traffic the Bumbles can sneak in and get a free ride.  Although the price for making one to many attempts is a terminal one :)

[AllenF]

I think carpenter bees looking for the good looking wood in your hives to drill.   I worry that I may not have too my soffit left on my house. 

[schawee]

last year i was sitting watching the bees come and go.had a couple of bumble bees come to the hive and the bees balled and kill them .on the 3rd day about 15 to 20 came to rob them.i had to get in my truck because i got stung a couple times.after the battle was over all the bumble bees were dead.it was something to see how they defended their hive.  ...schawee