1. Yes, there are 9 species of bumble bee native to Louisiana, actually!
2. Beekeeping with bumble bees is not quite as turnkey as it is with honey bees. Although both types of bees are social and live in colonies, the life cycle of a bumble bee colony is different: Most of the colony naturally dies off each winter, with only a few queen bees surviving. In spring, these queens venture out to form new colonies and repeat the cycle. Because of this, you’ll have a difficult time getting them to nest in your hive repeatedly, so your time and effort would be best spent creating an environment in your garden that suits all the bees鈥 needs.
Bumble bees like to nest in small hollows鈥攐ften in old trees, rock walls, leaf piles, and so on, so keeping these types of structures around can be helpful. The bees are especially receptive to structures that face south-southeast, as the morning sun helps warm them up for the day of foraging ahead. They also need a food source (flowers) and appreciate water; a shallow dish filled with small rocks and pebbles can serve as a suitable watering hole.
Also, note that female bumble bees (both queens and workers) are able to sting, while males (drones) are not able to sting. You’ll most often see female bees foraging for pollen and nectar, and they can be identified by the 鈥減ollen baskets鈥 on their legs, which males do not have. That being said, bumble bees are very passive bees and are not apt to sting unless mishandled or overly bothered!
1. Yes, there are 9 species of bumble bee native to Louisiana, actually!
2. Beekeeping with bumble bees is not quite as turnkey as it is with honey bees. Although both types of bees are social and live in colonies, the life cycle of a bumble bee colony is different: Most of the colony naturally dies off each winter, with only a few queen bees surviving. In spring, these queens venture out to form new colonies and repeat the cycle. Because of this, you’ll have a difficult time getting them to nest in your hive repeatedly, so your time and effort would be best spent creating an environment in your garden that suits all the bees鈥 needs.
Bumble bees like to nest in small hollows鈥攐ften in old trees, rock walls, leaf piles, and so on, so keeping these types of structures around can be helpful. The bees are especially receptive to structures that face south-southeast, as the morning sun helps warm them up for the day of foraging ahead. They also need a food source (flowers) and appreciate water; a shallow dish filled with small rocks and pebbles can serve as a suitable watering hole.
Also, note that female bumble bees (both queens and workers) are able to sting, while males (drones) are not able to sting. You’ll most often see female bees foraging for pollen and nectar, and they can be identified by the 鈥減ollen baskets鈥 on their legs, which males do not have. That being said, bumble bees are very passive bees and are not apt to sting unless mishandled or overly bothered!