Bumble Bees on my Salvia!

8 years ago

Planted Lyrical Blues this spring and they have really done well and still look good this late in the season.

Unfortunately, they are attract A LOT of bumble bees. The bees don't seem to bother anyone but I am concerned because the salvia are along my walkway to the front porch and about 4-5 feet from the front door.

They really don't even leave the salvia unless I squirt them with the hose (which I did because I didn't realize they were there).

Should I do anything about them?

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Comments (5)

rich_dufresne
8 years ago
I have a lot of bumble bees around my Salvias, and they are relatively harmless, unless they are in their nests and you cover up their exit with your hand by accident. You will get a bite which will disappear after fifteen minutes unless you have an allergy or sensitivity to stings.

For many on the east coast, these are usually carpenter bees, with shiny black bums. They bore half-inch holes in wooden structures like my nursery tables, Which are made from pressure treated 2 x 4 timber. Their exit holes are on the lower surface, which are not in my field of vision. They can be rather damaging to building eaves and other exposed wooden horizontal structures facing the ground. They also are pretty rough on long-tubed flowers like Salvias and will prevent seed set.

When flying, they may dart and hover in front of you, but a wave of your hand will send them flying. You will also see the males darting and diving after each other, similar to feuding male hummingbirds.
CA Kate z9
8 years ago
I didn't think that Bumble Bees even had a stinger. The old gardens had hundreds of bees of all sorts at all times and I never, ever got stung... not did anyone else! I just told them to stop swatting and walk slowly.
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i was thinking/hoping that it was just the empty nest syndrome! they nested between the exterior and interior wall of my shed/ old pigeon coupe. north wall, of course! their entrance was right above the top corner of the doorway. very convenient :) this is the same entrance the bb's used two years ago. i thought they were there later in the season than this. they certainly had more activity than this years. i am worried b/c it has been very dry, it is an old nest that may have disease (?), and there has been pesticide sprayed (limited) and grain form sprinkled on the ground, as well as soapy water for individual insect control on veggies. i know that bees are extremely sensitive. i may just be overreacting since i simply haven't had the time to observe the activity in a few weeks. i have lavendar and echinacea which i know they like. also, lamb's ears which is just starting to bloom. oregano also just starting to bloom. i am not sure if they visit cilantro- pests leave this alone so it has not been sprayed with anything. this spring i had a queen visiting a box in our garage continuously. i finally realized she was collecting fuzz off one of dh's hunting gloves made of that fuzzy flannel type stuff. i had to stand ground for her! last year, dh sucked a queen up in the shopvac thinking she was going to nest in the garage b/c she kept going in there. so, this ;year i told dh if he is so worried, put his gloves away where they belong and leave queeny alone! :)
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I too have Bumble bees on my Salvia. They land on the blooms and stick their hind legs inside to get the pollen. But that doesn't work on Honey Suckle, the blooms are to long and deep. But oh they want it and try! Ha! The hummers and I ignore them, but I know very well what that sting feels like. I just hate that they take all the goodies out of the blooms that the hummers need.
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Bumble bees like to nest in old mouse burrows, or cavities in old buildings, etc. I had some new queens that had over wintered in one of my perennial beds. I found them while I was cleaning off the bed while doing some weeding in late March early April a couple years ago. I accidentally dug a couple up. I didn't get stung cause it was a bit chilly for them to be moving really fast, and for the most part they aren't really aggressive bees. I just left the area alone for a couple weeks and didn't bother with it till they had all emerged and moved on to find new nesting sights. I like bumbles, they really are nifty bees. :) Diann IA Z5a
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Nine different kinds of bees (including Bumble) and three kinds of Hummers all co-exist feeding on the same plants in my garden. The only bees I've ever heard of actually damaging plants are Cutter Bees, but they only cut leaves. Now, Earwigs will do a nasty job on the blossoms. There are also other bugs that do damage; but I've always heard that the Bee was a flower's best friend. I can't imagine the necessity of harming a bee. PS. If you don't swat at them, they won't sting you. If you act benign, so will they.
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rich_dufresne
8 years ago
With mandibles that can chew through solid wood, they can bite pretty effectively. So can ants and many wasps.
pierre
8 years ago
Rich wrote: "carpenter bees, with shiny black bums...are pretty rough on long-tubed flowers like Salvias and will prevent seed set."

They prevent seed set by bitting a hole at tube bottom to easier access nectar and all other bees follow zapping sophisticated salvia pollinating mechanisms.

Most bees have stinging habilities but most often rely on size and noise deterrence.

Carpenter Bee venom has curious effects, not very painful it makes one intoxicated somewhat as if drunk.
rusty_blackhaw
8 years ago
The only reason to "do something" about bumble bees that I can see, would be if a resident or frequent visitor is scared to death of them or at risk for anaphylactic shock from a sting.

I've found bumblebees to be harmless. One possible exception is if you're handling the plant and don't notice one asleep in a flower.

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Bumble Bees on my Salvia!

Comments (5)

rich_dufresne

CA Kate z9

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