Re: Garden Report: Squash Borers Wreak Havoc as Japanese Beetles Invade Raspberries

[Pat Meadows]

On the more humorous side, just as it was starting to turn dark last

>evening, I reached down to pluck what I thought was a raspberry, as we >walked in the garden. When I felt fuzz, I backed off. Yes, it was a >gigantic bumblebee! In fact, a whole gaggle of them were sleeping in >the raspberries. Do bumblebees sting?

They sure do, and it really hurts - I've been stung by them more than once. They don't usually seem to be aggressive, though.

Pat

[Phaedrine Stonebridge]

No I have not usually found them aggressive either. They sure like the Lamb's Ears!

[Pat Meadows]

Don't. :) Once a bumblebee flew up inside my (loose-fitting) shorts when I was weeding the garden - I didn't know what it was and slapped at it and it stung me on the backside. OUCH!

I found out what it was after it had stung me, because slapping at it killed it and it fell out of my shorts when I took them off.

I couldn't sit comfortably for a couple of days.

Another time, I was driving with my daughter and a HUGE bumblebee flew in the open car window and landed on her hand, and stung her. It was probably afraid and confused at that point.

Pat

[Pat Kiewicz]

Do it! Pet one! I do it. Mostly in the evening when they are settling down, Sometimes they push at me with a leg, but I've never been stung.

So far I've only seen two Japanese beetles (and squished both). One was on the raspberries and the other was on the zinnias.

[Phaedrine Stonebridge]

We have an infestation of them here in Missouri this year. Everyone we know here is complaining about them.