Bee Problem

[Barewolf]

I seem to have discovered a nest on my allotment. When digging over the allotment in March, I kept finding very small bee's underground. Not many all at once, just a few dotted over the plot.

They seemed pretty dosile

It wasn't really until April that I noticed holes towards the end of my Plot, underground.

They appear to be very active, but because of the plot and vegetables, I dont want to resort to killing them off if I can prevent it.

A local Beekeepers wife said they sound like Bumble Bee's, However they don't resemble bumble bee's.

I have attached an Image taken from the Garden.

Can anyone shed any light on what they actually are?

[Gary L]

Looks like a wasp.

[Caff]

Mining bees?

mining bee.jpg

[Barewolf]

Its definately not a wasp. After investigation it seems like it's some kind of solitary bee which means I can leave them alone, but i'm not 100% sure.

[haydnwalker]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Looks like a wasp.

Looks too short to be a wasp to me (although I'll admit I don't know every type of wasp)

---------- Post added at 15:53 ---------- Previous post was at 15:52 ----------

Try Here ===> http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org...blebees_id.htm

---------- Post added at 15:54 ---------- Previous post was at 15:53 ----------

Looks a bit like the Common Carder Bee, as it's mainly one colour, however carders are usually brownish and thats more yellow...

[Caff]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Its definately not a wasp. After investigation it seems like it's some kind of solitary bee which means I can leave them alone, but i'm not 100% sure.

Really sounds like they are mining bees then.

[Barewolf]

Originally Posted by Caff

Really sounds like they are mining bees then.

I got a closer pic

[Caff]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

I got a closer pic

It seems to be a young one of these:
TawnyMiningBee.jpg

Or maybe you have discovered a new species

[v0id]

Look like like mining bees, if they're not bothering you leave them beE (pun intended).

i would have said a Red Mason Bee

Osmia rufa is one of the first bees you can expect to take up residence in a bee post. It is one of our commonest bees.
This is another bee that causes concern each spring. The red Mason bee nests in all kinds of holes or crevices, frequently in numbers, in crumbling masonry. It's very unlikely that the bee causes much, if any damage to buildings, as it only excavates mortar that is already crumbling. The female uses mud to construct her cells, hence the name mortar bee. She has two special horns on her face that she tamps mud with during nest building.

[Barewolf]

yep, they look identical to masonry bees when i alter the contrast on the picture.

No new species found then.

[Taf]

Fill some old pots loosely with straw and bury then upside down with the drainage hole upwards level with the surafce. This will provide a decent shelter for many bee species, and you can locate them where you won't be digging, so if you do disturb some bees, you will feel happier knowing there are others you have sheltered.

[Dai]

Nice idea. Another possibility is a bee post although I'm not sure if this would work for ground diggers.

http://www.insectpix.net/Homes_for_bees.htm

[smcaul]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Looks like a wasp.

Wasps always have a very thin mobile joint between the abdomen and the thorax, which is the easiest way to distinguish them from the various bee species.