I don't believe it.

Dave Hill · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 59

This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

Archived from group: uk>rec>gardening

"Robert \ · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 14

"Dave Hill" wrote in message @h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries

We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed

--
Rowdens Reservoir Allotments Association
www.rraa.moonfruit.com

Jeff Layman · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 89

Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
> "Dave Hill" wrote in message
> @h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
>> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
>> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
>> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
>> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
>> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>>
>> David Hill
>> Abacus Nurseries
>
> We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed

Two weeks ago honey bees and house flies on a Mahonia. Last week hoverfles.
Painted lady butterflies at Highdown gardens.

Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

"Robert \ · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 14

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message @tcp.co.uk...
> Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
>> "Dave Hill" wrote in message
>> @h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>>> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
>>> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
>>> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
>>> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
>>> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
>>> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>>>
>>> David Hill
>>> Abacus Nurseries
>>
>> We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed
>
> Two weeks ago honey bees and house flies on a Mahonia. Last week
> hoverfles. Painted lady butterflies at Highdown gardens.
>
> Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?
>
> --
> Jeff
> (cut "thetape" to reply)
shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good

Des Higgins · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 26

On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries

I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.

Des

Sacha · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 30

On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
64f068a5-b286-49ac-b1af-63d0ef82bfed@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com, "Des
Higgins" wrote:

> On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
>> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
>> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
>> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
>> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
>> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
>> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
>>
>> David Hill
>> Abacus Nurseries
>
> I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
> at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
> they come out too early.
>
> Des

We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

Jeff Layman · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 89

Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
> "Jeff Layman" wrote in message
>>
>> Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?
>>
> shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good

If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
wasps out of the house)

At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
kill, to feed their young as well as themselves. That includes good
invertebrates as well as bad. If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow
the ecosystem wouldn't notice - other predators would take up the slack.

But if bees disappeared, that's another thing altogether...

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

Mary Fisher · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 271

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message @tcp.co.uk...
> Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
>> "Jeff Layman" wrote in message
>>>
>>> Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?
>>>
>> shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good
>
> If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
> the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
> wasps out of the house)
>
> At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
> kill, to feed their young as well as themselves.

Like Man.

> That includes good invertebrates as well as bad.

Good? Bad?

> If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow the ecosystem wouldn't
> notice - other predators would take up the slack.

Like Man.
>
> But if bees disappeared, that's another thing altogether...

?

Mary
>
> --
> Jeff
> (cut "thetape" to reply)
>

"Robert \ · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 14

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message @tcp.co.uk...
> Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
>> "Jeff Layman" wrote in message
>>>
>>> Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?
>>>
>> shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good
>
> If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
> the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
> wasps out of the house)
>
> At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
> kill, to feed their young as well as themselves. That includes good
> invertebrates as well as bad. If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow
> the ecosystem wouldn't notice - other predators would take up the slack.

That is absolute nonsense

David in Normandy · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Sacha says...
> On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
> 64f068a5-b286-49ac-b1af-63d0ef82bfed@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com, "Des
> Higgins" wrote:
>
> > On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
> >> This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
> >> towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
> >> get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
> >> to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
> >> couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
> >> I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.
> >>
> >> David Hill
> >> Abacus Nurseries
> >
> > I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
> > at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
> > they come out too early.
> >
> > Des
>
> We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
> was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.
>
I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
between the window and the bee without squishing or
severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
Not the smartest of creatures. Good deed for the day. I
love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
(unlike wasps - shudder).
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

Mary Fisher · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 271

"David in Normandy" wrote in message @news.wanadoo.fr...
>>
> I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
> trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
> of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
> pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
> between the window and the bee without squishing or
> severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
> removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
> get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
> Not the smartest of creatures.

?

> Good deed for the day. I
> love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
> (unlike wasps - shudder).

Wasps are far more intelligent (in our terms) than any kind of bee ...

Usually when bumble bees are what humans call dopey it's because they're
chilled and/or hungry.

The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.

That WILL be a good deed!

Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.

Mary
> --
> David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
> To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
> subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

David in Normandy · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Mary Fisher says...
> > The loud hum it was
> > making was also impressive - like some noisy electrical
> > equipment.
>
> Yes, we say they're teddy bears on motor bikes.

I like your description, it seems to sum bumble bees up
nicely Smile

> But it's not rational

I know it is irrational but I can live with it Smile

I leave
wasps alone unless they come in the house, then it is
swatter or insect spray at the ready. The Mrs is worse than
me, at least my phobia is limited to wasps, she completely
freaks out if anything looking vaguely like a bee or wasp
goes anywhere near her. God help anyone in the vicinity if
she has a cup of tea in her hand at the time - it can land
anywhere!

--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

David in Normandy · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Mary Fisher says...
> The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
> then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
> to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
> hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
> going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
> no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
> she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
> tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
> she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.
>
> That WILL be a good deed!
>
> Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
> her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.

Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
between my hands.

Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
they run round and round inside my cupped hands.
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

Mary Fisher · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 271

>>
>> ... she won't sting.
>
> Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
> for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
> apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
> between my hands.

I promise. If you're stung by a bumble bee you deserve it - it takes a lot
of pressure to make her use her sting.
>
> Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
> inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
> and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
> they run round and round inside my cupped hands.

A bumble bee won't do that if she's chilled.

Our spiders don't bite, I'm told. I don't know for certain but I've never
been bitten by one and I've handled many.

The first time a bumble bee begins to tremble in your hands it can be a bit
unnerving, you have to resist the temptation to part your hands and drop
her. but you're a man, you can doi it! You're a LOT bigger than she is Smile

Mary

Des Higgins · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 26

On Feb 26, 12:52 pm, David in Normandy
wrote:
> Mary Fisher says...
>
> > The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
> > then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
> > to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
> > hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
> > going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
> > no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
> > she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
> > tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
> > she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.
>
> > That WILL be a good deed!
>
> > Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
> > her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.
>
> Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
> for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
> apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
> between my hands.
>
> Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
> inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
> and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
> they run round and round inside my cupped hands.
> --

The very delicate very very long legged spiders (Pholcus phalagioides)
do not bite
but the big hairy scuttling ones can pierce human skin. These are the
really big ones that you get stuck in bath tubs (Tegenaria species)
that people thought came up the plug hole but didn't. They can bite
and cause a reaction (swelling and pain) so I am wary of them although
I have hardly seen any for 4 or 5 years. It is as if they have been
replaced by Pholcus which used only be found along the south coast of
Ireland and UK in these here parts.

Des

> David in Normandy. DavidinNorma...@yahoo.fr
> To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
> subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

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