Of those that nest above ground some make nests in thick grass while others make nests in bird boxes lofts and in trees. Introducing the tree bumblebee.
Bumblebee Nest Faqs Bumblebee Conservation Trust
The thermal imager does not always find the nest if it is hidden deep within insulation but when it does it saves time trying to hunt the nest down.
Tree bumblebee nest in roof. Roof space colonies will create their nest in or on the rockwool type loft insulation using it to keep the nest snug and warm. The tree bumblebee is a new arrival to the uk. In such places the bees will use an existing hole to gain access then walk inside the roof to get to their nest.
An adult bumble bee worker is about 1 4 1 long and the queen bumble bee are about 3 4 1 long. The tree bumblebee will nest anywhere in a roof space but they are happy to use an entrance and exit point some distance away making the effectiveness of the treatment much lower than the wasp. We locate tree bumblebee nests in places such as roof spaces using a thermal image camera from beneath the ceiling and our nose and eyes when in the roof space.
Choose to nest are holes in trees and places high up in buildings such as soffit boxes under roof tiles and at house eaves. I have even witnessed the bees actually cleaning the insecticide of themselves before flying off to continue their journey. One of the species which nests in bird boxes and lofts is the tree bumblebee bombus hypnorum.
First recorded here in 2001 it is slowly spreading north. It prefers open woodland and garden habitats and can be found nesting in bird boxes and roof spaces. Roof space colonies sometimes create their nest directly on the back face of a plasterboard ceiling.
At night when the females and other bees were in the nest i sprayed inside of each hole with insect killer. In such places the bees will use an existing hole to gain access then walk inside the roof to get to their nest. Tree bumblebees in roof.
Before you buy read the label on the spray to make sure the pesticide will work for your situation.