# on bumblebees

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 14, 2000, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284 "2000-08-14T13:53:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284/1 "2000-08-14T13:53:27Z")

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In the recent mailbag column about [bumblebees](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbumblebee.html), I have to differ on one statement, specifically:

> [@](#):
>
> Bumblebees live in colonies, … , never more than a foot or two above ground

I currently have a bumblebee colony living on my deck. They have bore a hole into a post at a height of 10 feet or so. I watch them crawl in and out of the hole all day. Now, as to whether the actual living quarters are at ground level, I cannot say, but the actual entrance is much higher.

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**Author:** ![CatInHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CatInHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInHat)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284/2 "2000-08-14T15:13:24Z")

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xizor, is the hole 10 feet off ground level or 10 feet above the deck floor?

I read somewhere (always a good source :rolleyes: ) that bumblebees are much more efficient pollinators than honeybees. I know I see bumblebees around the yard all the time in the summer, much more often than I see honeybees.

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**Author:** ![crush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@crush](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crush)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284/3 "2000-08-14T17:11:08Z")

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I live in a cedar-sided house, and have battled bumblebees since being here - they have a great propensity to drill into the cedar looking for places to live. Usually they hit the plywood and stop. But when they drill in the eaves - paydirt. They are continually drilling into the eaves of our dormers and nesting in the “attics”. So, both the living quarters and entrance to same are about 35 feet above ground level. I have drilled a doorknob-sized hole from my real attic to the space above the dormers and routinely bomb the area with one of those room-fogger insecticides - seems to slow them down a bit. Anybody have a more permanent solution?

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**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284/4 "2000-08-14T18:17:11Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by CatInHat \*  
> \*\*xizor, is the hole 10 feet off ground level or 10 feet above the deck floor?  
> \*\*

The hole is 10 feet off the ground, about 8 feet off the deck floor.