From Eugene Daly’s series on various aspects of Irish folklore and customs

 

Buff-tailed bumblebee nests can be found in the hedgerows. The nests may be hard to see as bees are very private individuals but, if you listen carefully you may hear them buzzing away.

Sometimes the queen may decide to occupy an old abandoned mouse nest as these are usually warm and well insulated. She may also nest under sheds, decking, in compost bags, in hedge clippings or even in attics or under floor boards. Bumblebees need to be greatly provoked before they sting.

As bees are becoming victim to an ever changing world that threatens their habitat, we can do our bit to help them survive. We can plant suitable flowers in our gardens, window boxes, containers or at the base of hedges. We can provide nest boxes which are becoming increasingly available in garden centres or we could make our own. Bees are a gardener’s friend and we need them to pollinate our plants. Indeed bees are mankind’s friends–we wouldn’t survive if we didn’t have bees to pollinate out plants.

There is a piseog (superstition) that if a bumblebee buzzes at the window it is a sign of a coming visitor. If it has a red tail, the visitor will be a man and if the tail is white the visitor will be a lady.

Irish folklore tells us how easily the bees take offence which can cause them to cease producing honey, desert their hives and die. You must treat bees as you would a member of your own family.

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own