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Yesterday evening I went in the bathroom and heard a very loud buzzing and found a huge bumble bee in there. Let it out, shut the windows and first thing this morning there's another! In five years I have never seen one let alone two.Now,the cat is in the habit of pulling the end panel off the bath in his delusional belief that there are rats under the bath. He's done it so many times I have given up putting it back and it's loose. I am wondering if there is a nest of bees there? They were great big bees or for those preferring to be more precise, Apidae Bombinae

I too have seen a number of really big bumble bees. Having just read Milly mollie manders article about Bees I think I was just a bit more aware of them.

There seems to be a lot about with the unusual warm weather but I can't understand how the second one got in the bathroom when the windows were shut! Going to have a bath in a minute so will be wary of buzzing noises under the bath!

It's too early for bumble bees nests, but it is exactly the right time for the overwintered queens to be looking for a suitable spot to build a nest.
They will investigate any likely looking hole and crevice, and a dark spot underneath your bath would certainly deserve a closer look.
Just keep closing the window at night and even if you trap one overnight they will soon work out that it is perhaps NOT a good place to nest.

Thanks Tony but I cant work out how thw second one got in? Unless they arrived together and that one was still under the bath when I shut the windows? The cat is convinced there's rats under the bath, maybe there's a way in from outside that the bees found?

Solved! I was in the bath when bumble bee no.3 appeared from nowhere! Have checked outside and the bath overflow pipe has enough space between it and the bricks for them to get in. Obviously looking for a nest site like Tony said and then coming out via the loose panel. They're welcome to nest under the bath but the panel's getting fixed. I am starting to think bumble bees 1,2. and 3 are one and the same.

bill1953 wrote: I am starting to think bumble bees 1,2. and 3 are one and the same.

I bet they think that all humans look alike too.

Zoe

As in human beeings?

Meant it was the same overwintering queen!

Is that better?

You're so cute xxx

God I love this place! Such lovely nutters......

Bumble bee no.4 appeared this morning