Bee ID needed please

[unlucky]

Can somebody tell me what kind of bee these are? They have taken up residence in the bottom of one of my raised beds and would like to know if they are honey bees and if a bee keeper would be interested in them.

[JRsbugs]

They are solitary bees, Osmia rufa. They only make small nests so just enjoy them.

Janet

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

They are solitary bees, Osmia rufa. They only make small nests so just enjoy them.

Janet

Are you sure Janet - there are three of them?
Ken

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by diggleken

Are you sure Janet - there are three of them?
Ken

Lol, yep I noticed!

Looks like they are females collecting mud to seal their nests, the one at the left is definitely a female and I feel sure the others are too, they vary in size!

[unlucky]

Thanks for the reply. The problem is they aren't very solitary! This picture was taken at the entrance to the nest. I had wet the ground with a watering can to get them to spend a little more time in one place!


If they are solitary bees why are there so many? There is a constant stream of bees in and out of the nest.

[Ferret]

I think the misunderstanding lays with the word solitary. Solitary in this context means that each female makes her own nest chamber and lays her own egg/s in it, this does not stop a lot of female bees using the same area to nest in, in fact some species do form these loose colonies.

Ferret

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Ferret

I think the misunderstanding lays with the word solitary. Solitary in this context means that each female makes her own nest chamber and lays her own egg/s in it, this does not stop a lot of female bees using the same area to nest in, in fact some species do form these loose colonies.

Ferret

True, and if there's more bees than suitable nesting sites they will be nesting in the same site. That doesn't mean they share the same nest.

[unlucky]

Thanks for your help. Are these bees aggressive? They are next to where I want to lay some decking. I'm guessing they will be here for the rest of the summer or will they move on in a few weeks time?

[JRsbugs]

They won't be around for much longer, but the nest shouldn't be disturbed as the offspring will emerged next spring. They are not at all aggressive, I have them and they take no notice of me.

Here's a site which explains their life cycle;

Mason Bees:: Red Mason Bee [Osmia rufa] Information and Videos

[unlucky]

Thanks for the advice. I was concerned for my wife and children (my wife is allergic). Knowing what I know now I will leave well alone and make sure I don't disturb them as they will no doubt be very helpfull polinating my two new apple trees next year!