Bees/Wasp
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| Bumblebees |
If you spot a large and ponderous bee, black and yellow in
color, in your garden, you can be pretty sure that it is a
bumble bee. These fuzzy insects, which measure about
¾-inch to 1-inch in length, make a characteristically loud
buzzing sound as they hop from flower to flower, flying
somewhat awkwardly. These insects are very useful
pollinators.
color, in your garden, you can be pretty sure that it is a
bumble bee. These fuzzy insects, which measure about
¾-inch to 1-inch in length, make a characteristically loud
buzzing sound as they hop from flower to flower, flying
somewhat awkwardly. These insects are very useful
pollinators.
| Honey Bees |
Honeybees are not aggressive by nature, and will not sting
unless protecting their hive from an intruder or are unduly
provoked.
Honeybees represent a highly organized society, with
various bees having very specific roles during their lifetime:
e.g., nurses, guards, grocers, housekeepers, construction
workers, royal attendants, undertakers, foragers, etc.
The queen bee can live for several years. Worker bees live
for 6 weeks during the busy summer, and for 4-9 months
during the winter months.
The honeybee hive is perennial. Although quite inactive
during the winter, the honeybee survives the winter months
by clustering for warmth. By self-regulating the internal
temperature of the cluster, the bees maintain 93 degrees
Fahrenheit in the center of the winter cluster (regardless of
the outside temperature).
unless protecting their hive from an intruder or are unduly
provoked.
Honeybees represent a highly organized society, with
various bees having very specific roles during their lifetime:
e.g., nurses, guards, grocers, housekeepers, construction
workers, royal attendants, undertakers, foragers, etc.
The queen bee can live for several years. Worker bees live
for 6 weeks during the busy summer, and for 4-9 months
during the winter months.
The honeybee hive is perennial. Although quite inactive
during the winter, the honeybee survives the winter months
by clustering for warmth. By self-regulating the internal
temperature of the cluster, the bees maintain 93 degrees
Fahrenheit in the center of the winter cluster (regardless of
the outside temperature).
| Carpenter Bees |
Carpenter Bee, common name for a group of mostly large,
metallic-colored bees that construct nests in flower stalks or
wood.
When female carpenter bees construct tunnels in solid wood,
their chewing of the wood can be heard from several feet
away. Piles of sawdust beside the nest entrance and the
presence of many bees in flight in the area provide clues that
a nest is near.
metallic-colored bees that construct nests in flower stalks or
wood.
When female carpenter bees construct tunnels in solid wood,
their chewing of the wood can be heard from several feet
away. Piles of sawdust beside the nest entrance and the
presence of many bees in flight in the area provide clues that
a nest is near.
Paper wasps are a social wasp consisting of small colonies of
12-20 individuals. Adult wasps feed on nectar and make
‘paper’ nests by mixing saliva and wood fibres. Nests are a
nursery where larvae are kept one to each cell. The cells
are then capped and the larvae pupate. Most paper wasps
die in autumn or winter, while some hibernate to start new
nests next season.
| Paper wasp |
| Mud Daubers |
The mud dauber wasp is named for the way the females
construct nests from bits of mud. Their nests are made up of
tube shaped chambers, usually attached under eves. These
wasps are around ¾" long, mostly black, and depending on
the variety have some yellow markings. They also have a
very narrow, almost string-like waist. Solitary and non
aggressive, these wasps rarely sting or defend their nest like
other, more social insects. Instead, mud daubers use their
stingers to hunt other pests such as spiders. Their old nests
can be a nuisance and if not active, can be scraped down.
construct nests from bits of mud. Their nests are made up of
tube shaped chambers, usually attached under eves. These
wasps are around ¾" long, mostly black, and depending on
the variety have some yellow markings. They also have a
very narrow, almost string-like waist. Solitary and non
aggressive, these wasps rarely sting or defend their nest like
other, more social insects. Instead, mud daubers use their
stingers to hunt other pests such as spiders. Their old nests
can be a nuisance and if not active, can be scraped down.
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