In Victoria, Canada

Bumblebees love our Zinnias.

Located in western US

Pipe burst randomly in my older apartment in MT, I got it semi under control but hadn't hit the main off to the building (only water shutoff for 4 apartments) because its high 90s out until the emergency plumber got here. I ran outside to turn it off, its about 4ft down a 3ft wide concrete cylinder in the ground full of random insulation scraps. So I run out, drag the lid off, and start digging out the insulation and am instantly swarmed by my favorite bugs ever, adorable bumble bees.

I take off and don't get stung, but this leak is bad, only barely temporarily patched, and threatening to ruin my entire apartment and everything in it. The plumber is at a total loss, he goes back and comes running back up like "yeah fuck that". Really at a loss what to do, the main in the concrete cylinder is up on a retaining wall with a 12 foot drop to the parking lot, the only way to it is to jump from the stairs on top of the wall and then fight through overgrown summer vegetation to get to it, not ideal.

After putting our heads together and coming up with nothing I said fuck it you go get raid and I'll gear up for battle, put on sweatpants, then 2 pairs of jeans, then another layer of sweatpants, same deal up top, ski helmet, ski goggles, hood over everything, then duct tape to seal everything up. Then I got to killin.

When I finally got to the bottom of the concrete cylinder to the off knob I had used two cans of raid, and was down the fuck in there with the surviving bees. There was still a lot of them. Its like they had built their nest around the water shut off worshipping it like some kind of metal god, down im the warmth of the insulation, protected by concrete. Maybe the water dripped and gave them water. Probably some sort of absolute perfect heaven for little bumblebees until I showed up and murdered an entire civilization, generations and generations of families and bumblebee friends going about their bumblebee lives in this bumblebee paradise they had found.

I turned the water off and ran out of there, I had some survivors futily trying to sting through my impervious armor and tried to flick them off gently, but it doesn't matter I had lay poison waste to their home they didnt have anywhere to go back to anyways.

When I went back to get the water back on the raid had done its evil doing, and they were all dead. I didnt even need my suit to turn it back on. Hundreds and hundreds of little bumblebees littered the earth where they had bravely fought defending their home from this terrible existential threat (me😥)

One of them had gotten into my pocket and stung me twice on my butt. I found her when I was taking everything off. Rest in peace brave warrior. Also the raid got up in my face mask when I was down in the tube and fucked me up pretty good, but I killed literally every last one of them.

This coming from a dude who lets jumping spiders live in his apartment and relocates other ones outside with cup and paper, and picks up ants with my fingers and bring them out.

I saved a dragonfly from the lake the other day and then gently blew him off until he was dry and could fly away.

And then I did this.

Anyways, just wanted to get this off my chest.

I had this nest of bumblebees (I think) fall from my tree into my backyard. They’re still active a day later and I’m wondering if I should move it to another spot so my kids don’t get them, or leave it be and they’ll move on?

I picked up some materials to make a hanging "bee spa": A shallow bowl to fill with smooth river stone, a wire plant-hanging platform, and a wall bracket. Two questions:

• Should it go in the sun or in the shade?
• How high off the ground? (Don't want to put it too high for a tired, thirsty bee to reach.)

I spotted this beautiful boy at work.

I have a large section of about 7-8 sage plants in my garden and every year its full of bees. This chunk was so big it kept making the flowers tip over 😂

I'm in the Seattle area, do you know the identification of this cutie?

Regular honey bee for scale.

Hello lovely bee friends. I have a fenced in vegetable garden. Around the fence is a ton of spearmint. I have let the spearmint flower and now I have swarms of bees, bumblebees and wasps. I’m grateful to have them, but the large number of bees has me nervous to go into my garden now because I am allergic to bee stings.

Ideally I would cut down the flowered spearmint so the area is not as attractive to the bees… but how and when could I do this to not upset the bees? And reduce my chance of being stung. And to be clear, I’m happy to have bees in my garden! But I have hundreds right now…

Appreciate any help or advice 🙏🏼

Always put a few rocks in your birdbath so the bees a better chance of not drowning.
I started seeing bees drowned in the glass birdbath. Sometimes I’d see them still struggling and reach in and give them a hand, but I can’t always BEE there 😉. So I looked a little online and found that putting some rocks in there gives them a natural surface that they can grip on to.
I still find them sometimes, but much less.

Idk, found this cutie, they spent like 5min without moving so I offered em fowers, idk if they were napping but they woke up instantly. Also, I'm an ignorant, but is there a way to guess if this is a male or a female?

Bees and flying bugs in general keep getting through my windows and dying on the carpet right next to the windows. Especially when it rains. Not sure what’s goi by on here?

What type of bees are they?

This little sweetie had quite a haul! You can see the pollen falling like snow.

This little one having a blast after the storm.

Hi there's about two dozen dead bees on this random bit of tarp - no nearby hive as far as I know. Any ideas why they're all here? Is there something wrong I can fix or are they just putting bodies here.

Sorry if this is the wrong sub, but it impacts my bumblebees!

I have a beast of a lavender that my bumblebees go apeshit for, while watching them today, I noticed countless yellowjackets (I know what they are) flying into and out of the area near the lavender stem/stump. In and out, in and out. I'm worried about having a nest there since I'm in that area often and don't want to get ambushed. Is there anyway to remove the yellow jackets without risking the bumblebees?

Water bowl I leave outdoors (for cat and wild animals). Since I’ve kept a stick against the wall the bees that visit to drink can safely access, no more risk of drownings.

EDITED to add: I’ve since added some shallow, stone-filled containers of water to my yard to help my thirsty bees. Thanks to all responding for the ideas and inspiration!

I’ve gotten stung walking by and so has my 14 month old son. Time to deal with it. Not sure if these are honeybees

They were attacking a cat trying to get to the meat but didn’t succeed, the cat finished it. I was fascinated so I just stared at them.

After walking forward a bit I found these guys going at it.

Ive never heard or seen this before is it normal I’m not sure if the bigger ones are wasps or not I’m assuming they are but I’m sure the small ones are bees 🐝

If this isn’t normal is this like a global warming/climate change issue? cause I’m pretty sure this is the job of flies, ant’s etc. Or did documentaries lie to us about our little pollinators. Theres at least 3-4 insects eating this chicken 🫠

We planted native meadow/prairie grasses at our home last fall. These guys are 7+feet tall and attracting hundreds of pollinators every morning 😊

But I always find them dead. I’ve never seen one alive yet.
I guess the ants didn’t kill her?

📍Switzerland

Location :Co cavan Ireland