I am having a problem with bumble bees. They are living some where by my garden and I would like to rid myself of them. I have two small children who come into the garden with me. If you have any suggestions that might drive them away I would be grateful. Thanks.

-- Brian (windyhill@papadocs.com), April 14, 2002

Answers

You will probably never get rid of them all. Whatever else you do, shoes for the kids would be a good idea. I learned pretty quickly not to swat at them when I was a kid, but little kids get distracted and often don't look where they are putting their feet, especially when they are runnning.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 14, 2002.

you dont say where your at,, but, Id advise not getting rid of them, there are some plants that only bumble bees can pollinate,, and they are better on alot fo others. Most likely, its in a hole or crack somewhere. Thye can fly 5 miles away from their nest. Whats makes you think they are rigth at your garden??

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 14, 2002.

Why would you think that bumble bees and kids in your garden are not compatible? You are lucky to have them.

-- Laura (laauramleek@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

I think there must be more than one bee that goes by the common name "bumblebee." As a small child in Massachusetts, and later in Sweden, bumblebees were the least aggressive of bees; fuzzy sweet bumbling gentle ones. My Dad showed us how you can gently cup your hands around one as it is buzzing among the flowers. When I came to Texas, I found that what is called a bumblebee here is much larger, darker in color (less yellow, more black) and very aggressive--so much so that you run when you see one, for if it sees you it will attack. Maybe that is why people are giving differing advice. I too have read that the bumble bee is the only pollinator of, among others, red clover.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), April 14, 2002.

According to Laura Ingalls Wiler, Bumble bees were known as "Humble Bees" in her time.

I once crawled under my house to retreive a roll of fiberglass insulation, which had been stored there for quite some time. As I dragged it out, it began unrolling, with the result that I split a Bumble Bees' nest right in half. They started swarming, and I backed out of there really fast, I can tell you!

I only got one sting, which didn't hurt much. I was pretty surprised, as they had every right to sting me a whole bunch of times. Thank you, Humble Bees!

-- joj (joj@home.org), April 14, 2002.

I live in central illinois by st louis. they are about the size of a quarter. and they are hovering around about 10 ft from the garden and attack when you get close.

-- Brian (windyhill@papadocs.com), April 14, 2002.

Hi Brian, I am having the same problem. Mine are kind of what I think of as yellow jackets but not quite as big. We must have a 100 of them buzzing around the garage and garden area. I don't mind a bumble bee now and again, but this is WAY too many. I don't usually like to spray, but like I said, 100 is is just too many! We can't figure out where they go so we can spray though. I am looking forward to the responses on this one!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

Around here they spray soapy water on wild african honey bees. I don't know if it works on bumble bees??? It apparantly kills them with minimum harm to the enviroment or homes. The house next door has had bees arive at the same time in the same spot three times. The last time they removed the comb from within the wall and I hope that solved the problem.

-- milam (milam@nospam.com), April 14, 2002.

Watch where they go near dusk. They often live in a hole in the ground. Personally, I'd pour gasoline in it, but you might not want to. I don't know what else to tell you to do. I hate them, 'good' bees or not. Are you sure they're Bumble Bees, though? There is such a thing as Carpenter Bees. I can't tell them apart- something about the color of their face. They live in wood and are as destructive as termites. I know, they destroyed a shed of ours.

-- Gayle in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

They do live in holes in the ground. If your anatomy is blocking their ingress or egress, you could experience their displeasure.

I live in Central Texas. When I worked in a nursery I would show city people how gentle they are by touching them. They just move over.

I would consider driving kids to a Mall much more dangerous than having bumble bees on your property. I am 55 years old and I only know of one person who was stung by a bumble bee.

-- paul (wprimeroselane@msn.com), April 15, 2002.

You'd be better off to leave the bumble bees alone,if you don't have honey bees around they will be your main source of pollination so without them your garden will be a wasted effort.Black faced bumblebees sting and the white faced ones don't

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), April 15, 2002.

Bumblebees can indeed become aggressive when defending their nest. My wife was sent to the hospital several years ago after accidentally disturbing them. They were the fuzzy black and yellow ones. She was stung over a dozen times. The black shiny ones with a yellow face are carpenter bees, and the aggressive males cannot sting. They will often bore enough holes in buildings or trees to do some damage though. Personally, I would be careful with children in the garden and try to eradicate the nest if possible. I have been assured by local experts that enough will remain in the area to ensure that your garden and plants will still be pollinated. You and your family should come first. No bee-hugger here!

-- SteveD(TX) (smdann@swbell.net), April 15, 2002.

seems some people here need to get a book,, and identify the "bee",, a wasp is NOT a bee, capenter bees DONT sting,, a bumble bee, needs ALOT of aggitation to sting,, ALOT, anyone can pick them up, you need to harm one to get it to sting

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 15, 2002.

Stan. You are wrong. Sorry old boy but I have been stung several times by bumble bees and I did nothing to start it. If you are wearing the wrong color clothes they will sometimes attack. I know too well! I get stung at least once a year by a bumble bee and more than that by wasps. I was sitting in my chair in the house reading when a mud dobber made a bee line through the house and stung me on the chest. My Husband thinks its my scent. He never gets stung.

-- corky wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.