Think we may of upset the local bees

[Rotary-Motion]

bees swarming at work, don't like the digger, look to the right side of top of drainpipe wall is covered and 1000's flying around too, went for the digger so me and work mate legged it up the garden left the digger running lol... this video was when they calmed down hehe...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOP13GdcH0M&feature=youtu.be

[greasemonkey]

EEEEEK!! Major nightmare.
It's probably the noise has upset them. Native bees won't generally do this kind of thing, which suggests they may be an invasive species. They really ought to be caught and executed. Obviously a job best left to proffesionals. The worst thing is they may do it again. Once one stings, they all want a go.
I would seriously consider getting the EA out.

[Rotary-Motion]

how do bees communicate thought it was vibrating? or is it shaky tail?

[greasemonkey]

I don't know what it is precisely, but it's something to do with the noise, that rattles their cages.
Brush cutters seem to be particularly offensive to them. It's not unheared of for brushcutter operators to be attacked, and badly stung. Once one stings, it lets off some kind of hormone, and the rest just go for it.
That is why it is a particular nightmare of mine. It's never happened to me yet.........
Native Honey bees just rise above the nest, and swarm there, and don't really attack. Bumbles will swarm, but don't generally give chase. Once the threat has moved on, they calm down.
AFAIK, native bees will not demonstrate the kind of behaviour you have seen there. It's not in their nature, unless their nest has been destroyed, but even then, I still think that is an alien species.

[Manfred]

A few weeks back while a roofer was replacing my ridge tiles he found a bees nest in the soffits. We called a local bee keeper who said they were wood bees from America.  They are very aggressive and will attack. He didn't like heights but wanted to save the nest so the roofer used his coat and veil while removing the nest. Mean little buggers went for the kill. As there was no hope for the nest as they had swarmed he said to kill them off with ant powder as they would have died over night as they hadn't got a nest.  They aren't protected and illegal immigrants so a cuppa later no more bees.

[Rotary-Motion]

yeah neighbour called a bee hotline who takes them, but they wont climb a ladder so didn't want them?

[Dickjotec]

I kept bees for a while some years ago. British bees are usually tame. If it is a swarm then they don't usually sting as they are carrying honey different if they are disturbed.
SWMBO and me still remember, from different perspectives, the day a bee got into my vail, both me and the bee were very keen to get out!

[Manfred]

That sounds better than comedy TV. I bet SWMBO peed herself laughing while you and the Bee were playing windmills with your arms trying to remove the veil. Oh the mobile phone and you tube.

[Dickjotec]

That sounds better than comedy TV. I bet SWMBO peed herself laughing while you and the Bee were playing windmills with your arms trying to remove the veil. Oh the mobile phone and you tube.

Fortunately it was before the days on mobiles with video, thank goodness and no I don't fancy restating it for the cameras.

[julianf]

I had my first go at bee keeping last week (first go as in watching, and puffing smoke where i was told!)

Anyhow, i learnt that a hive nucleus is about £150 worth.  Something to think about when looking for the ant poison!

[Rotary-Motion]

yes they could of been splitting the flock up maybe another queen was born and so I been told they split up fill with honey and move on.

was ok to day they just kept busy all day as did we right by them

[CHUNDER]

Mupets bees will only swarm for three reasons

1  Which is by far the most common is the normal swarming about this time of the year  to establish a new colony I have colected many of these
wearing just a tee shirt and jeans .

2  The hunger swam they cant find enough nectar localy so they have to up sticks and move  this is a very rare phnomenem and even  rarerer in this country. These can be mildly agresive and dont take at all kindly to being disturbed

3 The battle swarm you realy have to provoke them to get this one  by either damaging the hive or going so close they feel theatened and by close I mean
within  a yard 


It also has to be rememberd that some bees are slightly more agresive than others. These strains usualy probuce the most honey and are valued
by bee keepers 

[Manfred]

That's why me Bee man wanted to rescue the nest then. He did take it away saying it was a nice size but as it was removed in daytime while the bees were out he didn't give it much chance.
 For the ant powder we only did the ones left after removing the nest as they weren't going to follow a car to their new home so would die soon and we had a roof off to finish. However my roof with a narrow no rain window or a bees nest. Sorry Bees.

[Rotary-Motion]

Mupets bees will only swarm for three reasons

1  Which is by far the most common is the normal swarming about this time of the year  to establish a new colony I have colected many of these
wearing just a tee shirt and jeans .

2  The hunger swam they cant find enough nectar localy so they have to up sticks and move  this is a very rare phnomenem and even  rarerer in this country. These can be mildly agresive and dont take at all kindly to being disturbed

3 The battle swarm you realy have to provoke them to get this one  by either damaging the hive or going so close they feel theatened and by close I mean
within  a yard 


It also has to be rememberd that some bees are slightly more agresive than others. These strains usualy probuce the most honey and are valued
by bee keepers

number 1 I think chug, as we are still working right by them with the digger and they just go about there business now, even with say 50 bees always buzzing around in a group the noise they make is quite loud...