Monroe County Master Gardener Association

Story by Gail K.

First, I’ll ask, did anyone else have any unusual dealings with bees this summer?  I got stung more times this year than I recall in past years-in fact I can’t remember when the last time was that I got stung.

Given the photo above, my editor in chief questioned the word “bee “My response: it flies-it stings I call it a bee-right or wrong?
         SPECIAL EDITION: LEARNING MODULE

With this new information I’m editing my post to read WASPS!!

Encounter #1: helping a friend & noted the blue fescue we transplantedwas uprooted & tossed aside?? Replanting-incited a sudden attack & multiple stings. Given the info above—Wasps had dug up the grass clump while making their nest…The earlier photo: ?? queen left the nest but did not escape multiple “foam” attacks

Encounter #2- prepping a weeping pine for transplanting. under a thin layer of mulch; a shallow nest with honeycomb at least 6-8 inches across. Off to Tru-Value Hardware to get

ammunition. Heavily garbed & under the cover of darkness; despite sentry guards flying about; I applied-POOF POOF the recommended powder to the site (this stuff works!!)

Observed over a couple of days; removed the nest & completed moving the tree.   (See the “wasps”)

While most of us will holler BEE!, when under attack by a flying missile with but one goal–to sting….
The close up below, shows distinct abdomen markings: “Wasps”. Most fuzzy ground bees-we call bumble bees.

Encounter #3: pulling plants during a pre-fall cleaning-under the foliage, a neat little hole to another dimension?!!!  Finally! Proof that gnomes exist??  However, a flurry of small flying “bees” sent me running. That nite-POOF-POOF!!

After a couple of days & seeing no activity & dead “bees” nearby-I took a closer look.  Folks, the neat hole was entry to

a CAVERN!!  13 inches deep-straight down & off on an angle on both sides, I believe was honeycomb!! What in the world did I find……Just how big is it??? Below.?? honeycomb on side of the hole matching one on the opposite side.

To date, I have not dug in that area but monitor for activity: the powder quickly alleviated the problem-despite the label saying “ground bee”…whether it “be a bee” or a ?? wasp issue, I will leave it undisturbed til spring, when I’ll dig up the area to get to the bottom of the issue.

Buzz Buzz g.

ADDEND TO GAIL’S STORY:

FREE RANGE OR FREE RUINS

by Linda W.

As Gail was dealing with insects, I had a pest this summer as well. You could ask: Why did the chickens cross the road? In this case the answer is Ruins….yes ….as in the remains of free-range chickens deliberate destruction.

Oh look, there are chickens across the street. How cute they were! The must have come across Dixie from the farm next to Kroger. Often seeing them in the Kroger Parking lot. Everyone enjoys seeing chickens until they visit you.

When I first saw this, I blamed those DARN SQURRIELS! Then there was more and there she was::

I called Animal Control. Seems like so many other offices, they were lacking help, but would go to the farm and talk with the owners. This happened 3 days in a row. and they were cited 3 times. I soon discovered, I was wrong and called Animal Control again. The four chickens were not from the farm but were from a neighbor one street over. They soon had a Sheriff deputy come to my house (since there was a shortage of animal control officers).

He went over and spoke with the family. They said they’d take care of them when the husband got home from work. Finally. No, wrong again. The next morning, I had this

Calling again, sent a video to the person standing in for the Animal Control. Citation issued to them, and they discussed that the chain link fence will not keep them in their yard. Then it got worse:

On left is my path in the memorial garden….on the right is the way the chickens decided it should be….all the mulch was scratched away from my plants, some roots exposed, All that work!

They scratch away much, exposing my drip irrigation and dug into the soil. Damaged plants. Called again. They again were cited and told that if they did not build proper pen for chickens that they would have to surrender them or put them in garage until they could build a cage. This solved the problem. They did not surrender them, but there were no more chickens after.

So sad to see the damage every day, I’d watch for them, the one was a defiant chick. Refusing to leave. But after hours of repair, there are no more ruins, just in time for the leaves to fall and cover everything.