Bees in my old Coal House

[Patricia58]

We have noticed bees going in and out of my old Coal House which is located 4 foot away from my front door. At first I wasn't bothered as I do my best to encourage bees into my garden but my nephew is getting concerned. Should I be worried? Unfortunately we are crossing their flight path - twice I have had a near miss but the bees just appear to be going about their business. I don't know how many are in there and only see 4 going in and coming out - but obviously there is more than that. What will happen in the summer when the weather is warmer - will they see myself and my visitors as a threat to them? Also I am worried in case someone calls who is allergic to bees stings. As long as there is no risk to anyone I am happy for them to stay but would really appreciate your advice

[Geoff]

If they are bumble bees i cannot really see they would be a problem. You don't get hordes of bees like with honey bees or wasps, cause the colonies are smaller. If they fly into you they tend to just bounce off and don't see it as a threat.
We had a nest in a stone wall by our patio where we had our table. They used to fly across the table and between us while we ate.
Last week i was called out to a bumble nest that had been exposed by a shed demolition. When i went near the open nest one chased me but did not sting.
I only got stung when I accidentally touched a bee while feeling through the nest with my bare hands.
Leave them alone and they should be OK. They are cute and docile. In summer I sit on my steps which is surrounded by lavender with bees all around me. Some even land on my leg, when i am wearing shorts. I have noticed that if a bumblle bee needs moving its easy. Last year one landed on a lady's cardigan and she panicked. I just put my finger in front of it, it crawled on and then I raised it up so it could take flight. She thought I was brave but I knew it wouldn't sting.:cool:
P.S. I brought the nest back home in a cardboard box and have turned it into a nest box for them. It is is now on my patio where I can see them. Incidentally the nest will only last this year if it is bumblebees as the nests die out at the end of the season.
If it is honey bees then contact local bee keepers to remove the swarm.

[Nellie]

I'm in the North Bristol area. While I'm not experienced enough to deal with honeybees in a shed I can at least put you in touch with the Bristol Beekeepers if you think you've got honeybees, but I agree with Geoff that you've probably got a BumbleBee nest.

The Bumblebee conservation Trust (http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebees_id.htm) Have a handy ID guide on the link here starting with a quick difference between a honey bee, common bumblebee and a solitary bee then going into more detail about BumbleBees specifically. If they are bumblebees then you've got nothing major to worry about, they're the stoners of the Bee world, they might bump into you as you come up the path, but they won't sting unless really provoked or you manage to accidentally sit on one.

You can also contact Bristol City Council, according to their web page they wont destroy a bee colony of any type unless there's no alternative but I don't know whether our extortionate Council Tax covers them sending someone round to confirm what the bees are.

[Chris]

What type of bees? I am guessing they are a type of bumble bee.

Regardless of what species of bumble bee they might be, I think you have already noticed that they are mostly interested in just going about their business. Bumble bees are not that interested in protecting their home, the exception being if you accidentally disturb their nest. And then they will mostly likely just buzz around angrily, rather than coming to sting you.

So, don't disturb their nest, and do not obstruct their comings and goings. The sudden appearance of a person in their flight path might confuse them a little, but that is where the name 'bumble' bee comes from, in that they 'bumble' around things. If, from time to time, lots of bee are getting 'lost', try a chalk mark on a wall or something so they can use this as an aiming mark. White chalk or a blob of white paint works fine.

You would have to accidentally sit on one of these before they sting you, and common sense would suggest they are best just left alone. The number of bees will increase throughout the summer to a peak in, about August, before the nest die and disintegrates.

It is human nature to worry about an 'unknown quantity'. Spend a little time getting to know these bees and their habits, and I am sure they won't mind you sharing their home with them.

[Patricia58]

Thank you all for the advice/comments. I feel a lot happier now. I am 99% sure they are bumble bees - I will watch them more closely over the weekend and see if they will pose for a photo.