Comments on: How To Build A Bumble Bee Nest http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/ How to Grow Your Own Food Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:53:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-3240 Thomas W. Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:19:39 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-3240 @Thomas Winther: All great ideas, thanks :-) @Thomas Winther: All great ideas, thanks :-)

]]> By: Thomas Winther http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-3186 Thomas Winther Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:58:05 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-3186 Your box looks sturdy and good, but I think bumblebees might not realize they can nest there. One of the bumblebees' favorite nesting spots is in old mouse nests, so you could try to a few things to imitate those: 1. Lower the box, so the entrance is closer to the grounds. Most bumblebee species prefer entrances close to the ground. 2. Attach a footlong garden hose length to the entrance, bury the mid-section and let the end peek out of the dirt. This makes it resemble a mouse nest more. 3. Claw away plants near the hose entrance, mice do this around their nest entrances. 4. If you can find some mouse droppings, scatter them around the entrance. 5. You should make at least two or three ventilation holes (cover them with plastic netting to keep ants out), especially if your box receives any amount of sun during a day. Bumblebees need a particular temperature range, and with only one hole it might be hard for them to maintain this. I made my own bumblebee nest from an old flower pot a little while ago, check it out if you're interested: http://www.renewablesathome.com/ecology/how-to-build-a-bumblebee-nest Your box looks sturdy and good, but I think bumblebees might not realize they can nest there.

One of the bumblebees’ favorite nesting spots is in old mouse nests, so you could try to a few things to imitate those:

1. Lower the box, so the entrance is closer to the grounds. Most bumblebee species prefer entrances close to the ground.
2. Attach a footlong garden hose length to the entrance, bury the mid-section and let the end peek out of the dirt. This makes it resemble a mouse nest more.
3. Claw away plants near the hose entrance, mice do this around their nest entrances.
4. If you can find some mouse droppings, scatter them around the entrance.
5. You should make at least two or three ventilation holes (cover them with plastic netting to keep ants out), especially if your box receives any amount of sun during a day. Bumblebees need a particular temperature range, and with only one hole it might be hard for them to maintain this.

I made my own bumblebee nest from an old flower pot a little while ago, check it out if you’re interested:
http://www.renewablesathome.com/ecology/how-to-build-a-bumblebee-nest

]]> By: Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-2957 Thomas W. Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:48:37 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-2957 @Metz: You mean like a flower? I think that might work, thanks! I'll give it a try. @Metz: You mean like a flower? I think that might work, thanks! I’ll give it a try.

]]> By: Metz http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-2943 Metz Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:51:17 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-2943 Try painting a yellow and purple pattern near the entrance hole Try painting a yellow and purple pattern near the entrance hole

]]> By: Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-1165 Thomas W. Sat, 02 May 2009 09:17:42 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-1165 @star: It's a good idea to build some kind of roof that covers the entire nest, since the rain is a bit hard on the wood if it's is raw and untreated like the type I used. @star: It’s a good idea to build some kind of roof that covers the entire nest, since the rain is a bit hard on the wood if it’s is raw and untreated like the type I used.

]]> By: star http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-1142 star Fri, 01 May 2009 15:09:19 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-1142 Cool, I want to try this Cool, I want to try this

]]> By: Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-992 Thomas W. Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:04:10 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-992 Well, not exactly. There are bees all over my lawn and it looks like they're searching for a place to build a nest in the ground. I see maybe two or three each day behaving like this. I've watched the nest I built but it doesn't seem like there's any activity :-( Maybe I get too close with the lawn mower, I don't know... Well, not exactly. There are bees all over my lawn and it looks like they’re searching for a place to build a nest in the ground. I see maybe two or three each day behaving like this. I’ve watched the nest I built but it doesn’t seem like there’s any activity :-( Maybe I get too close with the lawn mower, I don’t know…

]]> By: v2 http://happyfarming.com/2009/01/02/how-to-build-a-bumble-bee-nest/#comment-989 v2 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:42:36 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=119#comment-989 Did a queen ever find your nest? Did a queen ever find your nest?

]]>