What's in the hole?

[Blunt]

Hi all,
I've noticed what I thought were ants nests on my lawn.
Little mounds of fine dry earth, with a little hole in the top of each.
On closer inspection, they each have a rather shy insect waiting in the hole.
From what little I've managed to see, It looks rather bee-like, a bit furry with antenae on a dark head.
here's a few photos

a little blurry but you can just about make out the head poking out

typical mound with hole

with 20p coin for scale.

I imagine they're waiting for a meal to walk past. They're very shy, darting deep inside the hole when aproached.

can anyone enlighten me?

[smartie]

I can't see your pictures, but it sounds like they might be the holes of miner bees (andrena), which I put up a picture of a couple of days ago (see the thread "Bee holes") and eucera identified.

[eucera]

Almost certainly Andrena nest burrows

Stuart

[GuyF]

From my insect book, and from what I can see of the head it looks to me like Andrena Cineraria because of the grey hairs you can see.
I'm not very good on my bees though so I may be wrong!
Guy

[Blunt]

Thanks Smartie.

I did search the forum first, but missed that completely.

Very interesting info.

TA

I don't know why you can't see my photos though.

[eucera]

I hadn't seen anything clearly down the burrow... but A. cineraria is the only likely candidate in UK with a broad band of grey hairs on the front of the thorax.

S

[Blunt]

Blimey, you guys are quick!

There's definately grey about the thorax, so that's pretty conclusive.

thanks again.

I'll post some pictures of our masonry bees and ruby tailed wasps later in the year if you're interested.

Great Forum...Bookmarked

Edit: I just found this guys' photos...v.good

[eucera]

Originally Posted by Blunt

~SNIP~Edit: I just found this guys' photos...v.good

Yes Nico Vereecken is a superb photographer. He is also a BWARS member and a regular visitor to UK message boards. However, his pics should always be viewed bearing a couple of things in mind:
1) Nico photographs most of his bees in continental mainland Europe where there are lots of species we don't have
2) In order to put names to tricky specimens, he will catch them after photographing them, and prepare them museum-style. This is, of course, the only way to get 100% reliably identified specimens

I shall pass on compliments to Nico in the next day or 2 before he heads of to Italy on field work

[Blunt]

I've just bumbled into a subject I know nothing about

I'm glad you'll pass on any compliments