MARLEY’S TUNNEL 2019

Discussion in 'Poly-Tunnel Gardening' started by Marley Farley, May 17, 2013.

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  1. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    @Redwing it could be possible and I can't rule it out but I haven't found holes in the tunnel ground but my neighbour has in his veg plot the other side of the fence.. So I am wetting down in there to hopefully discourage them.. Another thing I have noticed is that they are clustering on Tomatillo flowers a bit so maybe that pollen is a bit like Ivy flower pollen... I just don't know, I am thinking they are going to have to run their course, but they are making the tunnel smell unpleasant too if I am honest.....
     
    Marley Farley, Sep 20, 2019
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  2. Spruce

    Spruce Glad to be back .....

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    sorrry just seen this ...looks like a late swarm I will read the rest of the post and get back to you
     
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      Spruce, Sep 21, 2019
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    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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      had a good read , its new bee to me , can you get a close up of one , what was flowering in the poly to attract them in ? or ar they nesting in the soil .......So Marley you have had a beekeeper out to have a look , I remember my brother had a gazebo and all the hovr flies would get caught in the top of it and no way to get out and I mean hundreds of them they just didnt realise if they flew down 4 feet they would of been able to escape
      I would luv a update please

      Spruce
       
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        Spruce, Sep 21, 2019
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      • Jenny namaste

        Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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        Knew you would come and have a look xx @Spruce ,
        Jenny
         
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          Jenny namaste, Sep 21, 2019
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        • Marley Farley

          Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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          Yay thanks for looking in @Spruce yes my local bee keeper hadn’t heard about them either.. I cannot find holes in the soil in the tunnel and am damping it down-so it isn’t inviting to them to tunnel. There are holes I see them going in and out of in my neighbours garden the others side of the fence to the entrance to my tunnel... They were first noted here in 2003 I think I read, and came from Europe..

          They are Ivy bees and they only feed on pollen from Ivy flowers no other pollen apparently which are only just starting to open. The Bees are active between mid sept to November to mate and collect the pollen to put with the eggs underground.!.!

          There is nothing left in flower in my tunnel now except the odd Tomatillo flowers which some go to but they are mainly just wandering around the polythene or clustered on the rails... the doors are wide open at both ends and some fly in and out, but they don’t want to leave.! I thought the cold nights might have them but seems not...
          They don’t sti g but they do sort of stick to you and they creep me out a bit when they stick on my face.!! :yikes:
          These are the critters... If you click the photo it will open full size and you can zoom in a bit more..:thumbsup:
          [​IMG]
           
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            Marley Farley, Sep 21, 2019
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          • Jenny namaste

            Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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            Thank you for all this information,
            So fascinating
             
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              Jenny namaste, Sep 21, 2019
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            • Spruce

              Spruce Glad to be back .....

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              the insects in the UK are glad of the ivy pollen start of Autumn last chance to feed up so another invasive species competing with our own little critters !!

              :yikes: eek I woudnt want them crawling on me either sting or no sting :gaah: I will have to keep a look out for them ... have to see what happening about the asian hornet see if thats got a hold this year or not !!

              thanks Marley it was a good read

              Spruce
               
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                Spruce, Sep 28, 2019
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              • Marley Farley

                Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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                @Spruce they are an unpleasant bee addition to our own...
                They have covered the polythene in their scent it is horrid so have now taken to watering Jeyes fluid on the ground to stop them Getting the idea to mine into my soil.... I know bees are pollinators etc but these are a short lived bee that supposedly ONLY like ivy pollen....... NOT TRUE..
                !!! They also like the pollen from Tomatillos...!! I have now removed all my tomatillo plants and this morning there are very few left.... YAY..,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                Thing is how do I tell anyone that.??
                 
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                  Marley Farley, Sep 28, 2019
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                • Steve R

                  Steve R Soil Furtler

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                  Thanks for the update Marley, I was beginning to wonder. Good info about the tomatillos too.

                  Steve...:)
                   
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                    Steve R, Sep 28, 2019
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                  • Marley Farley

                    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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                    @Steve R I ever thought I would say this, but..... Not a Welcome bee in my tunnel..! :yikes:
                     
                    Marley Farley, Sep 28, 2019
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