Bee Beard Log Hive in front of Bamboo
When I decided to place my new Bee Beard Log Hive I considered many things. I wanted it placed where it would get the morning sun shining into the entrance, well beyond the long reach of the tree shadows in winter, and protected from the raging winter winds that blast from the southwest. Also I wanted the hive to be visible if possible, on the edge of the garden, so we could observe the bees whenever we worked outside. The placement of the hive in front of the bamboo satisfied all the requirements. What I didn’t know is that bamboo attracts wasps. When I started seeing all the wasps on the bamboo I started to panic. What are they doing around my log hive? I started recalling the stories at the bee meeting about all the hives that are lost to wasps. How did I know bamboo attracts wasps? Is that common knowledge?
Wasp on Bamboo leaf over Bee Beard log hive.
The bamboo was leaning over the log hive…are the wasps going to attack my bees? What to do?
I plugged the last gap by stuffing the inner tube into it. Wasps won’t get in here
Found a piece of bamboo that fit the 1 1/2″ (3.81 cm) hole. This reduces the hole making it easier to guard against wasps.
After consulting the internet about bamboo I found out that wasps gather fibers from the bamboo for their paper nests. That’s what they are doing on the bamboo, not attacking the log hive,
Wasps are scary because they can sting again and again, but they also are beneficial because they prey on other pests like spiders, flies, bug, and caterpillers.
We feel that wasps have a place in our garden. We won’t kill them because they really aren’t bothering us or the bees, The ground hive is almost never used the next year and once the cold weather hits, it will be inactive.
I shot a short video showing the wasps on the bamboo as well as the very active ground hive.,,
Chainsaw artist Brian Vorwaller, carving the face on the log here.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 