What the hell? I'm a nebwee, but wow! I never thought I'd see that! I was looking at my hives today, two that are about 7 weeks old. I had just removed the entrance reducers yesterday. The bees are very busy, flying in and out doing their thing, and then I saw a bumble bee drifting around low near the entrance. Next thing I saw it was carrying one of my bees! I followed it, trying to see exactly what was happening, but it carried it away. My bee was heavily loaded with pollen, I could see it as it was kidnapped. I was pretty shocked by this.
I then sat near the hive, and before I knew it, there was another one! It flew right by me. I will confess, I smashed the bejesus out of it. OK, my question: is this normal? Anyone seen this before? I always thought the bumblebees were sort of nice "bumbling" creatures, fellow pollinators who were solitary, and not colonists. They even feed off the same flowers. I don't think this was a "carpenter bee." Anyone? Wish I could have caught that on film.
I then sat near the hive, and before I knew it, there was another one! It flew right by me. I will confess, I smashed the bejesus out of it. OK, my question: is this normal? Anyone seen this before? I always thought the bumblebees were sort of nice "bumbling" creatures, fellow pollinators who were solitary, and not colonists. They even feed off the same flowers. I don't think this was a "carpenter bee." Anyone? Wish I could have caught that on film.