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ValBee Nurse Bee
Joined: 03 Apr 2013 Posts: 26 Location: UK, MIDDX
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 4:16 pm Post subject: Idea based on trap out |
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I heard about the pest of bees in autumn and mice being an issue. I heard that bees will abscond and abandon a hive if they can smell a mouse. so this sounds like a possible way to avoid a cut out or trap out. If it can be tested via mouse smell/ develop liquid or essence or droppings maybe could be inserted into a hive and maybe the bees will leave. Has anyone tried this idea, any thoughts on this. May be a good way to get bees to abandon a poor nest site quickly without killing them. |
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
My experience with bees and mice is that they find the smell of mouse habitation and urine in particular very alluring. I have had two lots of swarm scout bees fighting over a hive that had died out and was occupied by a mouse, which I had to very quickly evict, prior to a huge prime swarm arriving. The hive stunk of mouse urine but the bees moved in and thrived.
Also, bumble bees very often occupy abandoned mouse nests in the ground, so I'm not sure where you got the info from that the smell of mice might be a repellent to bees.
That's just my experience though.
Regards
Barbara |
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ValBee Nurse Bee
Joined: 03 Apr 2013 Posts: 26 Location: UK, MIDDX
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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That's interesting, I got it from the basic assessment notes of pests and robbers. I am interested in others experiences, if this is not true that's good to know.
I had some mice in my garden, but the hives not been bothered yet. |
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trekmate Golden Bee

Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 1137 Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 7:10 am Post subject: |
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In parts of Africa they bait hives with human urine!
I'll be sticking to lemongrass oil..... |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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