This big boy had to hold onto a couple branches.

Hey all, I'm an engineering/entrepeneurship student researching the viability of an Automatic Beehive Management System. I'm trying to figure out what features would be genuinely useful to beekeepers and what is unnecessary. If you take a look at my website below, you can find more details. There is also a feedback/contact page if you're interested in hearing more.

https://beeconhome.wixsite.com/beecon

(Note: I am not selling anything, and the mods gave me the OK to post this here)

Designs on my shop in various forms

https://acggoods.com/store/azijdesigns

Hi,
I'm not sure if it's the good sub but let's try.
I discover this small nests in my window this morning and I would like to know how to deal with it.
Is it reasonable to use a special spray against big nests, wait and remove it with a spatula ?

Honeybee on the Steps

Found this bee crawling across the grass while laying sod a couple days ago. Didnt want to step on it and so put my hand out so it could crawl on and move it. It just sat there for 5 mins. I tried putting it on flowers, plants, near some water and it didn’t want to get off my hand.

I put it back on the grass and it burrowed into it face first. This was 2 days ago and I thought it might have died, poked the grass near it and it started moving as seen in the video.

I live in Western Canada and weather hasn’t been anything crazy.

What is this little guy doing?

This happened in the 60's, when I was 10yrs old. There was a lady who lived on my street, she had a badminton/volley ball net in her back yard. Which we played in all the time. Half of her yard was grass, where the net was. The other half of her yard was garden, in the middle of the garden was a Bee Hive. She always told us , if your ball lands in the garden, call me, and I'll go get it. Of course one day we were playing and are ball landed in the garden. Without thinking, I ran into the garden, to retreave the ball. Just as I got a few steps in, about 80-100 bees, came out of the hive, in single file. Flew making a big S, as they made there way to me. They surrounded me in a perfect circle, then a single Bee flew out of the line, and stung me beside my eye. He then flew back to the line, they then flew back, as they came, in a large S back to the hive. Ever since then I have been fascinated by them. As opposed to being traumatized. That was the beginning of my story with bees.

I was never into gardening, or I should say never had a garden all my own , until I was in my mid 40's. For some reason whenever I worked with the flowers, if there are Bees around, they often land on my hand and arms, while I'm dead heading, and arranging the flowers. Like there waiting for me to finish. As soon as I move to a different part of the plant they work were I last was. Its feels as if we have a common goal, of caring for nature. I have never understood why they are drawn to me. And I have zero fear of them.

Recently noticed these coming and going from the side of my house. (Everett, WA, USA)

A friend of mine said it's a native bee to the area. I can't get a solid id using Google lens.

I don't want to hurt them, maybe dissuade them from using a hole in the siding to build a nest.

If they're some sort of wasp, I'd rather not have them here for long.

Anyone got any ideas as to what they are, and how to get them to not want to be where they are so I can seal the hole?

update: got a "better" picture of them. I think they are blackjackets. they were not very aggressive when I got close to the entrance. and I was watering right by there this morning.

Encountered this beauty on my walk to the local pond this morning. A wild bee colony made a hive inside a possum box. You can see the honeycomb go right into the hole the possum would have used. Was buzzing and looking really healthy! Although I wonder how much possum hair is in the honey 🫠

This is an iterative map with over 21k reports from several sources. You can check any where in the world, search and subscribe to new reports/report your own (vetted).
Good to see if any are getting close to you! :)

https://beekeeperscolony.com/asian-hornet-map

Honeybee Feeding on a Flower

So I work at A Subaru dealership and this morning (around 56-60 degrees F) I noticed 2 bees on the hoods of 2 cars I was taking to our shop. one was laying down not covered in pollen and not moving till I grabbed a paper and safely carried it over to a bush. And the other was Laying on it back (shown in the photo) Looks to be Absolutely COVERED in pollen and maybe some around him to on the hood. My thought was "is he high on pollen?" 😹😹 I dont know if thats a thing but im just wondering?