Red mason bees, Osmia leaiana and leaf cutter bees using nest box-video
What better, safer way to teach children about bees? I had a really interesting and enjoyable day recently, when beside meeting some lovely people, I was manning a stall displaying my nest boxes containing red mason bee larvae, at the Royal Entomological Society...
Fly dead outside tree bumblebee nest entrance with fungus on its abdomen-video
Death outside the tree bumblebees nest box. There were 2 dead houseflies stuck to the outside of the tree bumblebee's nest entrance, which itself was sticky. The bees were still inside. One had a black and white stripped abdomen which I found very strange, having...
Osmia leaiana using masticated plant material in observation nest box 2013-video
Solitary bee inside nest cavity viewed through window Instead of using cut pieces of leaves as a solitary leafcutter bee does, in its 'cigar' style nest linings and unlike a Red mason bee, Osmia bicornis, that uses mud, this solitary bee uses masticated plant material...
Tree bumblebee gives warning signs when feeling threatened-video
I don't really want to sting you.....read the signs! Bumblebees are really docile creatures which display 'back off' warning signs if they feel threatened. Learning these could be useful, especially if you want to photograph or film them. It is best not to breathe...
Do neonicotinoids affect other wildlife as well as bees? The new DDT?
I wrote this article below in June 2013......Update.. June 2014 See this video here with Prof. Dave Goulson and other scientists who are studying neonicotinoids affects as part of the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides. They do not make their living as scientists...
Tree bumblebees (B.hypnorum) mating in my garden-video
Mating tree bumblebees (B. hypnorums) Just a tiny part of the curious life cycle of this relatively new species to the UK. After their 'drone dance' outside the nests, comes the mating! “All my articles and videos, available free, are funded by my teaching and sales...
Tree bumblebee B. hypnorum and the dancing drones! video
A mating ritual by B. hypnorum males I have had several bumblebee nests in my garden and found many as well over the years in the wild. I have not had any experience of the new UK arrival Bombus hypnorum, other than as garden visitors and sitings outside, nor any...
Tree bumblebee queen steals nest from Blue tit
Bombus hypnorum queen, cavities, nest material and conflict with birds In temperate forests, birds and bees nest in natural tree cavities. Bumblebees are small insects that, unlike birds or mammals, are not physically strong enough or have the physical capabilities to...
Defra did not have their evidence re neonicotinoids peer reviewed. Why?
Let's make money not honey......Pesticides - Fatally flawed Defra 'evidence'- Fera from Defra were asked to research the use of neonicotinoids and the decline in bees numbers, the resulting evidence was to be used to challenge the EU from banning the pesticides. This...
Nurturing Nature nest box attracts Bombus pascuorum queen to nest inside-video
Bombus pascuorum becomes a movie queen and gives my nest the thumbs up! To attract bumblebee queens to voluntarily nest in nest boxes, you have to use little tricks. There is a lot more to it than putting a nest box in your garden! To film wildlife you have to use...