The Bumblebee Is In Trouble

According to a recent survey, certain species of the bumble bee are at risk of disappearing from the UK indefinitely.

A nationwide survey, published in the journal Science, has found that in almost every part of the country the diversity of bee species has fallen by 80% in a few decades.

Some species (e.g. the Longhorn, which collects pollen from wild peas) have vanished altogether; others are on the verge of doing so. And just as bees are at risk, so are the flowers they pollinate.

Unless the problem is addressed, flowers such as the cowslip, primrose and bellflower could all start to disappear.

But there is cause for hope. In the battle to save the bumble bee, scientists have enlisted a most unlikely recruit: a white springer spaniel called Quin. At the request of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, he has been trained by the Defence Animal Centre (who normally train dogs to sniff out drugs for HM Customs) to sniff out bees’ nests.

Quin, the only dog they’ve been able to train in this difficult task – gets rewarded with a tennis ball every time he finds a nest.

Bees rarely pose as significant garden pests, however on occasion, the location of a bees nest can cause problems, especially if located near a doorway or window. Usually located underground, it is almost impossible to physically move the nest, and by pouring hot water on the nest will only cause you to have very angry bees.

Attack Pest Control provide specialist services whereby the bee colony is encouraged to move to another location using humane tried and tested methods. For further information and advice on bees, do not hesitate to contact us.