Dozens on bees found on ground of pathway leading to my front door. Why on the ground ?
Question by onelight: Dozens on bees found on ground of pathway leading to my front door. Why on the ground ?
This past week, I was returning home for the evening when I saw about 50 or more bees swarming around on the ground on the pathway leading to my front door.
The bees kept grouped to about the size of a dinner plate…They were just grouped together…moving around…crawling over each other…no more than a dozen were flying around…most were just ” huddled ” on the ground on my cement pathway. I don’t harm innocent bugs…so didnt spray.
Three neighbors came over to look. One suggested that I just leave them and return after it was dark and they would most likely be gone because of the night-time. Something about bees or bugs not being out at night. I went to visit a friend and when returned home later…sure enough…the bees were gone.
Why would bees ‘ swarm ‘ in a ‘ huddled ‘ group on a cement pathway ? ” There was no ‘ food ‘ source, no spills, no flowers etc. that might have enticed them to that area.
Any bee ” experts ” here that might have an answer? Curious.
Oops . . .Typo . . . ” Dozens OF bees found “. Anyway…any thoughts of what this might have been ? Why they were on cement pathway? My cat ” playfully ” swatted at some of them….she was stung…but not too bad. Anyway…any thoughts on the bees ?
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What do you think? Answer below!
4 Responses to Dozens on bees found on ground of pathway leading to my front door. Why on the ground ?
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They were drones chasing a queen. You will have a new hive in the area very soon.
httnmrtt
April 10, 2013 at 8:02 am
I am wondering if they were bees or if they were actually yellow jackets. I would bet they were yellow jackets. Yellow jackets actually nest underground in holes. Why would they swarm? I am not sure. Maybe a female was moving her nest? I have no idea.
julliana
April 10, 2013 at 8:12 am
My family used to raise bees and when the queen leaves the nest, for whatever reason there are several reasons they would do this, the rest of her drones follow her. She will lite wherever she choses to and they would ‘huddle’ around her to protect her. You were fortunate the hive was a small one. 🙂 What you did was perfectly acceptable and the bees did move on. If it should happen again though and they do not leave you will need to take different measures to encourage the queen to leave.
Henriette H
April 10, 2013 at 8:44 am
Often, bees will try to ‘rescue’ another. Which is why you shouldn’t ever ‘swat’ one, as you can be ‘swarmed’ in no time.
Perhaps one had been hit by something or someone and fallen to ground. The others pick up the scent given out by a distressed bee and swarm to help.
Not too sure that bees won’t come out at night though.
We had a nest under an eve near our kitchen window. One night we left the light on in the kitchen, and after a couple of hours came down to see a rather frightening MASS of bees all over the glass.
I’m assuming they were feeling cold. Saw the light, and associated it with warmth.
Just glad the window wasn’t open.
Pete.
Peter M
April 10, 2013 at 8:56 am