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Bees & Beekeeping

Bee Hive for Black Bees

MotherNauresDaughter

9 years ago

We have a large bee hive that was created this summer in a tree right by the house. They did not bother us and we did not bother them. My husband read that these black bees do not have stingers. However, I have a baby due in December and I will become a saty-at-home-mom who plans on raising a nature-loving baby, i.e. I plan on being outside all the time with him. I am wondering if we should try to move the hive over the winter months. We live on a very wooded lot and can move them to a nice location, but is it necessary? The hive does look pretty cool!

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Comments (9)

User
9 years ago
Can you post a photo of the bees and the hive?
And tell us what city and state you live in?

"Black Bee" could be many different species.
Konrad___far_north
9 years ago
Why move it..my mom had me and 4 more with a bee house and several hives just 20 yards away.

If your husband says they have no stinger then they're not honey bees, [absolutely harmless] ..I'm not totally sold on this before seeing some pictures, they could be black honey bees, perhaps Carniolan bees moved in from someone else hives/swarm from near or far.
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Konrad___far_north
9 years ago
Here is one of my black honey bee.
macropis
9 years ago
That is not a honey bee. It looks like a bee in the megachilid family (leaf cutting and mason bee family). They are solitary and dont live in hives, though they can nest in aggregation in wood cavities. They ( and bees in general) are docile and will not sting unless you try to touch them. Really. I cannot stress enough that there is no need to remove bees from children's environments.

There actually are stingless honeybee species in central and south america.this is not one of those.
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Whitelacey
9 years ago
I am coming in late on this but I must add that bees do not bother you unless provoked. I keep bees and the only time I have been stung was when one got caught in my hair.
I liked your comment about raising a nature-loving child. My attempts to raise an outdoor girl resulted in a child who will only go outside to get to her car. They will be who they are.

Linda
Sowth Efrikan
9 years ago
I also keep bees and have had a guard bee fly straight out of the hive and sting me on the face as I opened the hive. It happens. It depends on temperament, the weather, what is happening in the hive - a multitude of factors. I would not move hives just because children are around, unless the children are foolish enough to mess with a hive, like throwing rocks at it. Also, if you damage those hives over winter you will likely kill them. Leave them be - they will leave you be.
dbobul
9 years ago
Im wondering what this hive looks like. If you want to raise a nature loving child, why not let them be exposed to nature. Id leave them alone. Raise your child to respect nature and live with it.
Sedonia Sipes
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
These leafcutter bees are solitary and do not live in hives. There are no "guard bees" in this species as you find in bumblebee nests.
mickeymantle
8 years ago
I would leave it unless someone is very alergic to bee stings and then I would keep an eppi pen around

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