[1garysaccount]

We are having a burst of warm [for us] weather here in Olympia WA and the bees are quite active for short bursts of the day. Nothing of consequence in bloom yet, not even maples. Not the point. Yesterday while checking on the hive I discovered two bumblebees on the landing board. The honey bees appeared to be virtually oblivious to them landing around and on them with no real effort to attack or challenge their presence. The why of the bumblebees out and about makes perfect sense and I assume they are looking for food and smell the honey. Has anyone experienced bumblebee robbing?

 

[AR1]

I have seen the occasional BB entering my hives. The honeys don't seem to notice much compared to how they react to yellow jackets.

 

[JWPalmer]

I have seen my bees balling a carpenter bee that had the misfortune of looking for a meal in one of my hives.

 

[Steve in PA]

Are you certain you aren't seeing drones coming & going?

 

[AR1]

Are you certain you aren't seeing drones coming & going?

In my case absolutely 100% certain. Biggest bumble I ever saw, big as the end of my thumb.

 

[little_john]

I usually find around four each season, lying on a bottom-board mesh, blackened and greasy-looking ... and very dead.

Whether the bees kill them, or they enter a hive and can't find their way out - couldn't say. Pity, as they're harmless enough - and great fun to watch.
LJ

 

[1garysaccount]

Are you certain you aren't seeing drones coming & going?

In this case absolutely certain. BIG black and white bumblebees.

 

[1garysaccount]

I usually find around four each season, lying on a bottom-board mesh, blackened and greasy-looking ... and very dead.

Whether the bees kill them, or they enter a hive and can't find their way out - couldn't say. Pity, as they're harmless enough - and great fun to watch.
LJ

Totally agree, we make every effort to give them their place in the world. We have found that they REALLY find great nesting places in our compost pile(s) which sometimes is not in their best interests when it's time to turn the piles so I really am careful about that. We have llamas and those piles get large and quite warm real fast. Makes them perfectly happy.

 

[1garysaccount]

Thanks all for the input. Not going to sweat it much. Just the first time I've noticed this. Granted we have only been at it a couple of seasons.

 

[Cariboospeed]

And there's an entirely new value to Bumblebees.
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