Would you be able to post the dimensions of the box and hole size? Thanks

Sure, give me some time, have to go out and mesure it up.
I have just taken appr. dimension from this video.

http://mkat.iwf.de/mms/metafiles/02000018060220000000_lo.as
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If you have problem opening it, please search here for bumble bee video.

Konrad

Konrad, Couldn't open that video. Would love to know dimensions of your BB house. Tx.

I would be very interested in making some bumble bee boxes. I love my bumbles nd want to keep them around! Thanks!

The bumble bees in my yard have drilled holes in the underside of my arbor. For the longest time, i wondered how the holes got there until I saw one go inside. James

Jamesy40: You might want to try and get a closer look. It is possible that your Bumble Bees are really Carpenter Bees.

Hopefully I get some dimension tomorrow, they are not at home, out in the nursery.
I set them on a fencepost facing west, about 4 feet up, I had luck the first season with one entry, [two boxes]
I figured, the fence wire make a kind of "ring", when the wind blows and this could disturb the bees,
I then moved them the following year onto a lone standing post but I had no nest this season.
Not sure what I will do this year, perhaps I move them onto a tree.
I don't think size is too critical, same with opening, I almost think the hole could be on the bottom too.
One could experiment with different design's.
I had clay pots buried into the ground with ends [hole] sticking up on a slant but no take.
Konrad

Ok... the house is made from 3/8 thick material, measurement to
the outside is 4" x 4" by 6" tall, the entrance hole 3/4".
The house is filled with paper insulation material, right up to the hole, from home depot.
Konrad

Do the bees just KNOW to get into this box? what's the appeal? do they stay there year round?

Queen bumbles constantly look for a new home in spring, If they find
what they're looking for they stay and start making a nest. They
stay for one season, new bumbles are raised and only from this brood
one or more queens will overwinter. I have seen one today when digging, transplanting trees,
a HUGE queen bumble came and checked out the
pile of dirt.

Konrad

It's been now several years since I started making houses, ..overall, I'm not too pleased with the results. Just a little disappointed that not more bumbles use this home.
I have also tried with several clay pots dug a little into the ground, laid down sideways, never one's a bumble nested.

One of my owl houses was occupied by them one year, took some pictures at the end of season, [low number of bees].

{{gwi:429920}}

{{gwi:426875}}

I know that bumbles like moss, have seen many bumble nest in the ground,..as a child in Switzerland, on a hill/shade side was mostly moss, I could find many nest there.

I might just fill the houses with moss and see, have build another 5 and I will place the entrance holes on different spots, perhaps paint with yellow around the hole.

This house is about 16 feet up on a tree, pretty shady in the bush. Never had owls but Northern flying squirrel were in it one time, perhaps they got the moss inside?

{{gwi:429921}}
..

Please share your experience with attracting bumbles to your home. Allot of natural habitat gets destroyed by man, hopefully we can help a little.