[Misc] Queen Wasps

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

A bit random, but I've seen more overwintering queen Wasps this year than ever before. Just an excuse really to share the fact that these valuable insects need a home and a place in our hearts too.

Oh, and can we have a Nature prefix please for future threads?

Weststander · Dec 25, 2021

Widening the discussion to solitary bees and bumblebees, many are active even in January.

I grow a fair amount of Pulmonaria and for the first time Hellebores. Invaluable food to these bees in the coming weeks/months.

happypig · Dec 25, 2021

Wasps ? Stripey arsed ********, they can feck right off.

Bees, on the other hand, great bunch of lads.

Eric the meek · Dec 25, 2021

We have a large lavender bush at the front of our house. I've pruned it back now, but when it's in flower, it's always got several bees on it. It's easy to grow, attractive and feeds the bees.

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

Weststander said:
Widening the discussion to solitary bees and bumblebees, many are active even in January.

I grow a fair amount of Pulmonaria and for the first time Hellebores. Invaluable food to these bees in the coming weeks/months.

I think the worry is that as Winters become warmer, Queen Wasps can awake from hibernation too soon and then starve to death when there's not enough food around to sustain them.

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

happypig said:
Wasps ? Stripey arsed ********, they can feck right off.

Bees, on the other hand, great bunch of lads.

Both as valuable as each other in any healthy eco system.

I bet if humans could get honey from Wasps, it would be a different story.

Stat Brother · Dec 25, 2021

Weststander said:
Widening the discussion to solitary bees and bumblebees, many are active even in January.

I grow a fair amount of Pulmonaria and for the first time Hellebores. Invaluable food to these bees in the coming weeks/months.

Had I been better prepared the poorly received poppy photo on 'Gardeners' would have also included a bee. (not Chris)
Sadly he left as I was faffing with the camera.

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

Stat Brother said:
Had I been better prepared the poorly received poppy photo on 'Gardeners' would have also included a bee. (not Chris)
Sadly he left as I was faffing with the camera.

Have you got Opium Poppies? They self see everywhere and are great to leave in dotted strong the place. It's not uncommon to see up to five different bees all busily at work on the same flower head at the same time. :thumbsup:

METALMICKY · Dec 25, 2021

happypig said:
Wasps ? Stripey arsed ********, they can feck right off.

Bees, on the other hand, great bunch of lads.

This with bells on!

Stat Brother · Dec 25, 2021

1066familyman said:
Have you got Opium Poppies? They self see everywhere and are great to leave in dotted strong the place. It's not uncommon to see up to five different bees all busily at work on the same flower head at the same time.

No but it did flower just a couple of weeks ago - clearly much to the apathy of my former friends on Gardeners.

Seemingly there's one more flower which might spring forth, this year or early next, but I'm not sure those on here are worthy of such a miracle.

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

Screenshot_2021-12-25-16-20-20-799_com.miui.videoplayer.jpg

A still of a video I took. Hard to see here, but there's 5 Bees in there having a party. :lol:

Knocky's Nose · Dec 25, 2021

1066familyman said:
A still of a video I took. Hard to see here, but there's 5 Bees in there having a party.

It wasn't a party... It was a business meeting.

Weststander · Dec 25, 2021

1066familyman said:
I think the worry is that as Winters become warmer, Queen Wasps can awake from hibernation too soon and then starve to death when there's not enough food around to sustain them.

That’s happening to quite a few creatures, also then caught out by cold snaps.

Weststander · Dec 25, 2021

Eric the meek said:
We have a large lavender bush at the front of our house. I've pruned it back now, but when it's in flower, it's always got several bees on it. It's easy to grow, attractive and feeds the bees.

Try this one too:
https://downderry-nursery.co.uk/product/gros-bleu/

It gives a much longer flowering season. Sussex Uni’s Prof. Dave Goulson, the world’s leading expert on bumble and solitary bees, found it to be an immense food source for bees.

I’ve got a load of these plants, swarming with multiple species of bees from June to August.

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

Weststander said:
That’s happening to quite a few creatures, also then caught out by cold snaps.

Exactly. Not good.

Eric the meek · Dec 25, 2021

Weststander said:
Try this one too:
https://downderry-nursery.co.uk/product/gros-bleu/

It gives a much longer flowering season. Sussex Uni’s Prof. Dave Goulson, the world’s leading expert on bumble and solitary bees, found it to be an immense food source for bees.

I’ve got a load of these plants, swarming with multiple species of bees from June to August.

Thanks very much - they sound excellent. I never knew there were so many varieties!

BN9 BHA · Dec 25, 2021

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

bn9 bha said:
View attachment 143080

They should have put number two as number one. That's the real truth of it, because humans tend to be cvnts like that when it comes to our fellow creatures.

Also, 1,3 and 4 also applies to Wasps :thumbsup:

So basically, that poster is just a load of old bollox. Other than that, as you were.

BN9 BHA · Dec 25, 2021

1066familyman said:
They should have put number two as number one. That's the real truth of it, because humans tend to be cvnts like that when it comes to our fellow creatures.

Also, 1,3 and 4 also applies to Wasps

So basically, that poster is just a load of old bollox. Other than that, as you were.

On two occasions I have been stung badly on my back when driving, not sure I was being a c*** to either wasp as they flew into through my open van window and somehow down the back of my shirt.
Luckily l didn’t crash TBH.

1066familyman · Dec 25, 2021

bn9 bha said:
On two occasions I have been stung badly on my back when driving, not sure I was being a c*** to either wasp as they flew into through my open van window and somehow down the back of my shirt.
Luckily l didn’t crash TBH.

We had about half a dozen stings at work this year, all from bees. Admittedly, we did have a couple of hives near by.

Had the usual bit of wasp bothering at break times and not a single sting.

See, it works both ways.

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[Misc] Queen Wasps

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Mon nez est en Valenciennes..

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