Bees build intricate nests to house their colonies But how long do these structures last before the bees abandon them? The lifespan of a bee nest depends on the species
While all bee nests are temporary, some types last for multiple years Others are seasonal and only used for part of the year Here’s what to know about the lifespan of different bee nests and when they are abandoned.
Annual Bee Nests
Many common bee species create new nests every year that are active for just one season. These include:
Bumblebees
Bumblebees nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows or cavities. Their colonies are annual – only lasting through spring and summer.
In late summer and fall, the bumblebee colony dies off, except for newly fertilized queens. The old nest is left deserted over winter. The queen emerges in early spring to start a new colony.
Mining Bees
Mining bees dig tunnels in the soil to lay their eggs. Their nests usually survive only one season before new nests are built the next year. The bees abandon mining bee nests over winter.
Mason Bees
Mason bees use mud or plant resins to build nest cells for their larvae. Their mud nests are used for just one brood cycle then deserted. The next spring, female mason bees construct new mud nests.
Sweat Bees
Sweat bees nest in shallow burrows in bare ground. The nests are short-lived and abandoned after the larvae finish developing, usually within several weeks. Sweat bees don’t reuse old nests.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees drill tunnels into wood to make their nests. A female carpenter bee will use a tunnel for one season to breed then seal it off in fall. She’ll dig a new nest tunnel the following year.
Cuckoo Bees
Cuckoo bees don’t build their own nests. They lay eggs in other bees’ nests. After the cuckoo bee larvae hatch, they take over the nest, causing the host bees to abandon it. Cuckoo bees have an annual cycle tied to their hosts’ nests.
Perennial Bee Nests
Some bee species create nests that last for multiple years and are reused annually.
Honey Bees
Honey bees build perennial wax comb nests inside bee boxes or tree hollows. A healthy honey bee colony can live for many years in the same hive, with new honeycomb added each year.
Honey bees don’t abandon their hives annually. The worker bees survive winter by clustering for warmth and feeding on stored honey. However, if the colony dies off from disease or a failing queen, they will desert the hive.
Stingless Bees
Tropical stingless bees make durable nests from plant resins and wax. A stingless bee colony may inhabit the same nest for 5-10 years or longer. The nests are passed down between generations.
As the colony grows, the bees expand the nest by adding new resin pots and wax brood chambers. Stingless bees rarely abandon an established nest site.
When Are Bee Nests Abandoned?
For most bee species, nest abandonment happens in late fall when colonies decline. The nests are left empty over the winter months when bees are inactive.
However, bee nests may be deserted at other times for various reasons:
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A weak or diseased colony that fails to thrive won’t survive the winter in the nest.
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Invasion by pests like wax moths can displace a colony.
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Damage or destruction of the nest by weather, animals, or humans.
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Loss of the queen bee dooms the colony. Worker bees can’t survive long without her.
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Parasitic cuckoo bees take over the nest, causing abandonment.
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Resource shortages, either food or nesting sites, forces the bees to look for new homes.
Signs a Bee Nest is Abandoned
Here are clues that a bee colony has permanently left its nest:
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No bee activity in or around the nest over several weeks.
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Nest entrances are blocked with debris, soil, or wood shavings. Bees seal up empty nests.
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Presence of spiders, earwigs, ants, or other scavengers.
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Wax moth larvae in the nest eating wax, pollen, and honey.
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Nest damage from weather exposure and animals.
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Peeling paint or wood decay around nesting site.
If you find an clearly abandoned bee nest, it’s safe to remove it. But be sure the bees are gone before interfering with an active nest. When in doubt, contact a local beekeeper to inspect.
Allow Bees to Move On
When bee nests are disrupted or destroyed, these important pollinators lose their homes and food supply. Allow bees to follow their natural nesting cycle and move on when ready.
Avoid killing bees or poisoning nests. Instead, identify the species and understand their habitat needs. With a little tolerance, you can avoid conflicts and support your local bee population.
How does a queen bumblebee find a good nest spot?
The queen will fly in a slow, unique zigzag pattern when she is ready to start looking for a place to build her nest. She will often fly low to the ground or around things that might be good. As she does this, she uses both her sight and smell to guide her. If she spots a potential site, she will land and crawl in to investigate further. You can see her for a few minutes at a time, but if that doesn’t work, she’ll come back and keep looking.
An exception to this behaviour is the six cuckoo bumblebee species. Female cuckoo bees come out a few weeks after their favorite social bumblebee hosts and start looking for nests that are already set up. When they find a nest, they will enter and fight with the queen. These birds are stronger than the birds they live with, so they can beat the queen and take over the nest. The worker bees, who are the queen’s daughters, will then take care of the cuckoo eggs and larvae until they grow up to be new female and male cuckoo bumblebees.
Credit: Clare Flynn
How long does a bumblebee nest last?
Bumblebee nests usually last between 2 and 6 months. This depends on factors such as food availability, weather and again which bumblebee species the nest belongs to.
Some species, like the Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), have short, predictable nesting periods. Other species, like the Common carder bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum), can have longer periods with less predictable beginning and ending dates.
Since bumblebee queens always build a new nest, an old one won’t be used again once it’s full. But another queen may use the same spot, like a nest box or a space on the roof, but she will always build her own nest.
How long do honeycombs last???
FAQ
Will a bee nest go away on its own?
How long will my bee hive last?
Do bees come back to the same nest every year?
How do you get rid of a bees nest fast?
How long do bumblebee nests last?
Short-lived nests such as Bombus pratorum can be over in just a month or so, whereas a Bombus terrestris could last from early spring to October. So first identify your bumblebee U. K. species start here, North America start here), and remember that, sadly, not all nests go through the whole lifecycle.
How long does a bee sting last?
A minor sting with mild symptoms may only last for a few hours. But in severe cases, that could mean being hospitalized and taking days or even weeks to fully recover.
What do bees do when they leave the nest?
Most of the bees leaving the nest are collecting resources to bring back to the colony. Bees will fly upwards of 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) to collect nectar and pollen from flowers. The bees use nectar to make honey which is the primary energy source for the adult bees and for growing bee larvae.
What if a honey bee nest is in a building?
If the nest is in a building and in an inconvenient place, ask a beekeeper to take a look at the situation for you. Honey bee nests need careful handling so as to ensure no honey comb is left behind, because this could attract more bees and wasps after the original honey bees themselves have moved on.
How long does it take a bee swarm to find a nest?
Besides that, the bees simply need time to find a new place to live. As mentioned, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several days for a bee swarm to find a new nesting spot. If the bees are still there after a few days, you can call a local beekeeper to help relocate the swarm.
Do bees bother you if you leave a nest?
The bees will not bother you if you give them space away from their nests. Also, most bee nests will be abandoned by the late fall because bees aren’t active during the winter. The exception is honeybees. Honeybees will remain in their nests over the winter. So if you need to remove a honeybee nest, contacting a beekeeper is best.