Building a Bumblebee Nest


One of the most colorful and fascinating creatures in nature is the Bumblebee. As you can tell from my signature, Bumblebees have intrigued me since I was a child, hence my nickname, Bumblbyte.

It is for that reason that I try to attract Bumblebees to a home made nest. These creatures are fascinating to watch and since they are basically non-aggressive, they do not pose the risks that honeybees and wasps might. Bumblebees like to nest in warm, sheltered areas. Each species has its own nest preferences, however the ground and surface nesters are my favorites. In making a Bumblebee nesting area, there are a few tips you can follow.

  • A small pile of twigs and leaves can provide a good home to a colony of Bumblebees.

  • An old flowerpot with some nesting material could provide a nesting area. While dried grass and other substances make satisfactory nesting material, the contents of a small mammal nest works best. Make sure there are no ant nests nearby, since ants and Bumblebees do not mix.
  • An old buried teapot makes a good nest. The spout allows for easy entry and exit, if it is large enough. It's important to keep the nest dry, so make sure the entry is not in a spot that gets excessive moisture or runoff from rains.
What can you do with the Bumblebee colony other than watch it? Realistically, nothing. Bumblebees do produce honey, but the expense is so high that unless you've got a large commercial operation, it isn't economical to do so. One average sized Bumblebee making about ten trips a day would bring back enough nectar to make less than a teaspoon of honey. But to get the honey you would have to break into the nest, destroy the honey pot and probably destroy eggs and young in the process. For this reason, it's best not to even try.

That still doesn't detract from the enjoyment you'll find watching "your" Bumblebees going about the business that they do best, being Bumblebees. I still remember my father telling me that according to the laws of physics, a Bumblebee can not fly. Maybe that's the reason I'm so fascinated with them. They defy the laws of physics, each time they go by my window on their way to my garden.

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