How Do I Get Rid Of Bumblebees?

[Oleozz]

I sure could use some help with ideas on how to get rid of the bumblebees that will soon invade my dog kennels. Every summer when it warms up there are bumblebees everywhere through the kennels. Two years ago we almost lost a setter to bumblebee stings, his face swelled up but fortunately I was able to get a benadryl and prednisone down his throat.
The kennel is in the old barn foundation, I know the bees are living somewhere in the rocks but I'm never able to follow them to their nest. They also might be in a hole or two in the ground behind the kennel. I've tried foggers but that's not real healthy for the dogs. I'm sure they are attracted to the urine so I'm always scrubbing the runs and fences but usually to no avail. Thanks for any thoughts............

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Oleozz,
I really dont have an answer about bumble bees, but I at times have a heck of a problem with carpenter bees I occassionally find them boring holes in my trim work around the house ! If I can get to them I whack them with a bad mitton racket. I usually end up caulking the holes with exterior caulk, but its a real pain especially at the peaks of the house !

 

[BB_TX]

I would question also whether they are bumble bees or carpenter bees. Supposedly bumble bees are fairly docile while carpenter bees are aggressive. They look almost identical. I had them years ago at another house. The backyard would be full of them. Finally I traced them to a wooden fence. Looking up under the top rail, there were holes about half inch in diameter all under the rail. Went out there at night, sprayed wasp/hornet spray in the holes and put tape over them. That took care of the problem until I took the wood fence down.
If you have wooden structures in the kennels, look under any horizontal boards and see if there are holes under them.

 

[RonMar]

As for the Bumble Bees, move the kennel? Unless you can find their source, you will have a hard time eliminating them. In this day with all the problems bee keepers are having, I would think twice before I nuke something that might bee needed to polinate the crops or fruit trees that I eat. I guess beekeepers are having a real problem keeping bees. They just fly away. Some suspect that pesticides are effecting their navigation skills and they forage afield and can't find their way back to the hive. Some have also pointed to cellphone use as the decline in domestic bee stocks seems to be keeping pace with the proliferation of cell coverage, but this is probably just a coincidence.

How warm/dry is it where you are at? The bees are probably drawn to the dogs water bowls and not the urine(hence the dogs facial injuries defending it's dish/territory). You might try giving the bees an easier water source closer to their suspected point of origin and away from the kennel. Get a small tank/large bucket and float valve and feed it with a garden hose to keep it topped off. Put some floating debris in it like wood scraps that will saturate and evaporate the water to make it more attractive to the bees as a watering hole.

Scott: I think the carpenter bees want the holes, not the material they are boring into. Give them holes. Take a 4X4 wood block(the ones we make are about 18" long) and drill one side full of holes. Paint them nice and neat and attach them to your house where the bees are boring into the wood and see what happens. My father inlaw showed me this trick that he uses around his home. These bees help polinate his fruit trees.

 

[scott_vt]

Scott: I think the carpenter bees want the holes, not the material they are boring into. Give them holes. Take a 4X4 wood block(the ones we make are about 18" long) and drill one side full of holes. Paint them nice and neat and attach them to your house where the bees are boring into the wood and see what happens. My father inlaw showed me this trick that he uses around his home. These bees help polinate his fruit trees.

Afternoon Ron,
Thanks for that tip I will have to try that approach ! I assume that pine would be the best material to use ? They seem to have no problem with my pine trim on my house Although on my Ct home I have a cedar mailbox post that is bored to death by these monsters !

BTW, I was reading your post on the fella that was looking for input on the grader, and took a look at the one that you made, very nice !

 

[thingy]

My experience with the carpenter bee is they are not aggresive,yeah,they fly around my head and all,but they have never stung me[guess they sting],,I have chased them with srays and pluged up their holes with caulk,,don't work,,badmittin racket is the best,,somebody said you could force pieces of moth balls in their holes and that would do it,,but a few hours with a badmitten racket thins them out good.

Now bumble bees ones I've been around,nest in hay or in loose lumber,,and a rock pile sounds like a good spot to,and a bumble bee is nasty when you mess with his nest they about stung my little brother to death,,,,I pour gas in yellow jacket holes when I find them,that works,just wait till dark,,,if you could do this on the rock pile,maybe it would work,,,course,,it is gas,and gas is,,well,gas,,so,,but it kills the @#$$ oughta them yellow jackets,,,thingy

 

[scott_vt]

,,,course,,it is gas,and gas is,,well,gas,,so,,but it kills the @#$$ oughta them yellow jackets,,,thingy

Afternoon thingy,
Thanks I needed a pick me up this afternoon !

 

[RonMar]

Afternoon Ron,
Thanks for that tip I will have to try that approach ! I assume that pine would be the best material to use ? They seem to have no problem with my pine trim on my house Although on my Ct home I have a cedar mailbox post that is bored to death by these monsters !

BTW, I was reading your post on the fella that was looking for input on the grader, and took a look at the one that you made, very nice !

Well you are already drilling the holes for them so it probably won't matter too much, but a soft would is better. They pick the pine or cedar for that reason as it is easier to bore a hole.

Thanks for the compliment on the grader.

 

[thingy]

Scott,glad I could help out,,yep,gas kills them insects,,[now lighting it is optional],just wait till it soaks in good first if you do,,,thingy

 

[Steverino]

Check out this website for some good ideas.

http://www.pestproducts.com/bumble-bees.htm

The following is an excerpt from it:
There are ways to avoid a bumble bee problem:

• Clean up yard of unwanted mulch or other such organic debris.
• When working in flower beds, gardens, etc. or when cleaning up other such areas around the home, be cautious when dealing with any flat board, stone, bricks, etc. as these are the most likely sites for a nest.
• Remove flat items that could provide a nesting site for bees: boards, plywood, other loose building materials, tarps or other junk. (This will not only reduce the chances of bumble bees nesting too close to house, children or pets but will also make your garden look nicer.)
• Flat rocks, stones or bricks should be removed unless they are part of a pathway or other decoration. Examine the ground beneath stones or brick for possible mouse holes which need to be filled in. Check these items to make sure that they are packed down to make good contact with the ground.
• If you find a nest, it is best to leave it alone and let the drones and workers die off during the winter. Use this option only when you are positive that children, pets or workers in the area are not at risk of being stung by the bees.
  Foraging bees are extremely beneficial and want nothing to do with people or pets; encounters with bees in and around their nest can be harmful to people and pets.