As a result of so many have a worry of bees, we are inclined to amplify their measurement in our minds. Bees are available all sizes, however honey bees normally are a couple of half-inch lengthy.
DEAR JOAN: My yard birdhouse has been invaded and is now occupied by bees. Very small bees. Very small. Not wasps, not hornets, not bumbles. They’re concerning the measurement of a dime.
What are they? What are they doing inside my tall — truly an ornamental — birdhouse? Assist!
J. Ok., Nice Hill
DEAR J.: Your ornamental birdhouse has now change into a purposeful bee hive.
I’d say the thriller invaders are honeybees, that are smaller than folks may assume — a couple of half-inch in measurement. In addition they are the one bees we've that type massive colonies, or hives.
Honeybees are social bees, creating hives that nurture future generations of bees, in addition to a stockpile of honey. The vast majority of different widespread bees within the space are solitary bees. Though they could hang around collectively at occasions, they construct their very own nests for laying eggs and rearing child bees, they usually don’t cluster collectively or produce honey.
In addition they are way more mellow than honeybees, which normally are fairly chill except somebody or one thing threatens the hive. A lot of the native bees create their egg chambers underground and would have little interest in a birdhouse, ornamental or not.
It’s not that uncommon for honeybees, in addition to wasps, to maneuver into cozy locations. As no birds have been occupying your small abode, it appears that evidently a queen bee, maybe not too long ago departed from one other hive, has laid declare to the construction.
You don’t wish to do something to hurt the bees, however a birdhouse just isn't an acceptable place for constructing a hive. Except it’s hanging from a sturdy chain and connected to a robust help, it'll finally change into too heavy with all of the honeycomb and honey, and can crash to the bottom.
You may let nature run it’s course. The bees may finally work out the dangers and transfer on. Or you'll be able to ask beekeeper to advise you or to relocate the bees. In your space, the group to contact is the Mount Diablo Beekeepers Affiliation, diablobees.org. They ask for a $50 donation for his or her bee roundup companies. The web site is also loaded with recommendations on bees.
To stop bees, yellowjackets and paper wasps from taking on a birdhouse, rub the inside partitions, ceiling and flooring with an unscented or flippantly scented bar of cleaning soap. The cleaning soap will make the surfaces too slippery for beginning a hive, however it gained’t trouble the birds in any respect.
Fungus honest goes digital
In Monday’s column, I discussed the sixth annual Tilden Fungus Truthful hosted by the East Bay Regional Park District, however between the time I acquired the discover of the honest and the time my column appeared, the considerations concerning the omicron variant had modified the occasion to a digital affair.
The two-day fungus extravaganza, now set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 29-30, is scheduled to live-stream on the park district’s Fb web page and YouTube channel. The displays will function native mycologists, the Bay Space mycoblitz, a cooking demonstration and extra. No registration is required, and the occasion is appropriate for all ages.
For extra data, go to www.ebparks.org or name 510-544-2233.
Have a query for Joan?
Use this type to submit questions. Pictures ought to be mailed individually to jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.