What are these bees doing?

[RL]

Anyone know what these bees are doing?

Theres a whole cloud of them in the yard, they seem interested in a small crack in our wall. There's nothing sugary there, and the hole doesn't lead to anywhere.

We don't have bees, but our neighbour does. They are a bit of a concern so I'm trying to understand about bees and their behaviour.

Thanks!
RL

[.30WCF]

First glance it looks damp. Bees need water. Is there water leaking out of the crack or does water pool up when you wash down the paint cart next to it?


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[Ben Framed]

Good catch 30...

[Acebird]

Almost looks like they are searching for a home.  Why is there discoloration on the concrete / dirt coming from the crack?  Suggest a flow of water???

[Ben Framed]

 
RL
the hole doesn't lead to anywhere.

The crack may not lead to anywhere to the naked eye but blocks such as in this wall have hollow places..

RL why is the small hole there? Is this a weep hole, or an A/C drain, other? Why is water coming from this small hole?





 

[BeeMaster2]

RL,
Welcome to Beemaster.
What is on the other side of the wall?

[Brian MCquilkin]

My first thought was that they were collecting water, on a second glance I think they might have set up home. My reasoning is I noticed then defending against what appears to be a yellow jacket.

[Ben Framed]

When I first decided to keep bees I joined beemaster one year ahead of time, reading and studying trying to educate myself with at least the basics.  I also watched JP and Schawee videos on bee removal. I decided removal would be my avenue of obtaining bees. I talked to the local Police Dept, Fire Department etc. A removal call came from a hotel. The situation was similar to yours with block walls RL. The bees had already set up housekeeping inside this block wall. I did not do this job because I did not want to take on such responsibility of breaking into a supporting block wall. I did 'not' have thermal imaging. It was to far from home for a trap out and to many pedestrians in this area anyway.  So yes the bees can and will hive in a block wall.

[RL]

Thanks for the good advice all.

This is a retaining wall in the back yard. Yes moisture runs out from under the wall across the rocks here often, for a long time after rain.
I do hope the bees aren't looking for water here, we can't do anything about the water, it's just the geology here.
I'll ask the neighbour if she puts out water for her bees.  Maybe they won't come here if they can get a drink at home!

@Ben Framed you are right, these blocks are hollow, although as best I can tell this is a blind hole.
But anyway I will block off the hole, and any others I can find.  The interest in the hole has stopped now, but there's still clouds of bees.

Thanks,
RL

[Brian MCquilkin]

Bees don't like the rain, put a sprinkler on them and after a day or 2, they will go and find another water source.

[The15thMember]

Thanks for the good advice all.

This is a retaining wall in the back yard. Yes moisture runs out from under the wall across the rocks here often, for a long time after rain.
I do hope the bees aren't looking for water here, we can't do anything about the water, it's just the geology here.
I'll ask the neighbour if she puts out water for her bees.  Maybe they won't come here if they can get a drink at home!

@Ben Framed you are right, these blocks are hollow, although as best I can tell this is a blind hole.
But anyway I will block off the hole, and any others I can find.  The interest in the hole has stopped now, but there's still clouds of bees.

Thanks,
RL

All good advice here, but I would just like to add that IF the bees are only gathering water here, there is really no need to try and get them to leave.  Bees forage for water just like they forage for nectar, and them coming here to drink will not cause any damage or encourage them to move into any nearby cavities or anything like that.  As long as they aren't a nuisance, there is no reason not to let them be, provided they are not in fact living in the wall.     

[RL]

Thanks The15thMember. I'm not worried about damage, I'm just concerned that the more bees we get, the more we will get stung.
We get a lot of bees just wandering around on the lawn, as well as flying all around us.
I have young kids, it doesn't take many stings and they're afraid to go outside now.

That's a good idea about the sprinkler - I might try watering the grass when I see a lot of bees.
I don't think it will be a long term solution though, since they live right next door.

Thanks!
RL

[mark]

foragers will not sting away from the hive unless they are molested.  if you have dutch clover in bloom don't walk in it in bare feet

[The15thMember]

Thanks The15thMember. I'm not worried about damage, I'm just concerned that the more bees we get, the more we will get stung.
We get a lot of bees just wandering around on the lawn, as well as flying all around us.
I have young kids, it doesn't take many stings and they're afraid to go outside now.

That's a good idea about the sprinkler - I might try watering the grass when I see a lot of bees.
I don't think it will be a long term solution though, since they live right next door.

Thanks!
RL

foragers will not sting away from the hive unless they are molested.  if you have dutch clover in bloom don't walk in it in bare feet

I was going to mention something along these lines.  The overwhelming majority of the time, bees will only sting in defense of a colony or if stepped on or otherwise crushed.  Again assuming the bees are not living in the wall, as long as the children are not playing in that immediate area in bare feet, they should be in no danger.  Just as an example of how foraging bees will not sting, I was cleaning some frames outside the other day, and there is very little nectar available for my bees this time of year, so a little bit of honey will quickly draw them to a location.  As I was cleaning the frames, there were probably 300 bees flying about and licking up drops of spilled honey, including several on my hands and many on the frame I was actively working on.  I was just in shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops, no veil or suit or anything, and I took no stings.           

[Ben Framed]

RL. honey bees, when away from their hives are all business, ("busy as a bee"), either looking for nectar, pollen, water, or on rare occasions; considering swarming season, a new place to live. Even then they are not aggressive, you can actually walk into an active swarm of thousand and thousands of bees and not be stung. Generally speaking honey bees have no interest in looking for confrontation. As Member and Mark mentioned they wish to live and let live. A honey bee is capable stinging once and only once. They naturally know this. Unlike a wasp or hornet which can and will sting multiple times and live to tell about it :-)   

On the other hand, if a honey bee stings, her stinger will be pulled and ripped away from her body, dismembering her (sure death). Honey bees sting as a last resort for a self defence act. Such as when being mashed as stated earlier. Many times when folks are stung, and honey bees are in the area, the honey bee gets the blame almost every time, when in reality it may be a wasp or some other type stinging insect. If the stinger is intact at the place of the sting, then it is a honey bee sting. Otherwise.........

I hope this helps ease and puts to rest your concerns..

[.30WCF]

Your neighbor will likely start putting water out if you bring this to their attention.
I have bees and don?t want them buzzing around my porch and kids play set. It?s more a peace of mind thing, but it is peace of mind and that means something.


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[Ben Framed]

Your neighbor will likely start putting water out if you bring this to their attention.
 
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I agree.
The old time bird baths make good bee waterers and are attractive to the eye. Just make sure water is always in supply..

[The15thMember]

Your neighbor will likely start putting water out if you bring this to their attention.
 
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I agree.
The old time bird baths make good bee waterers and are attractive to the eye. Just make sure water is always in supply..

And also be sure that the bees can't drown in it.  I agree with .30, your neighbor putting out water may help to keep them away from this spot, if that is what you prefer.  Although sometimes bees are attracted to particular salts or minerals weeping from certain locations, and if that is the case, it may be more difficult to encourage them to forage elsewhere.     

[Ben Framed]

And also be sure that the bees can't drown in it.

Although sometimes bees are attracted to particular salts or minerals weeping from certain locations, and if that is the case, it may be more difficult to encourage them to forage elsewhere. 
 

Good point. A good reason for the bird bath, low mortality...

[Michael Bush]

Sometimes they will move into the hollow part of a concrete block wall.  As other's have said, it's also possible they are gathering water.  I would say they act like they live there, but there aren't that many coming and going so it couldn't be a very large colony yet.