Q: I took this photo of a squirrel nest that was blown out of a tree. As I investigated it, there were carpenter bees all over it. Once they cleared out I opened the nest to find the bees had made their nest and deposited the larva in it.

A: What you have is a bumblebee nest. These insects resemble carpenter bees, but a carpenter bee has a shiny bottom. The bumblebee bottom is hairy.

It’s easy to notice the difference – just follow one for a minute while they visit your flowers.

If possible, relocate the nest to a shrub that isn’t near a spot where pets or humans are likely to be.

 

bumblebee