My first Bombus lapidarius of 2010

[Geoff F]

I find that B. terrestris is usually quite obvious and the yellowish bands register automatically with me, even when they are a bit dark; quick all black sightings normally turn out to be B. lapidarius.

So it is quite likely that is what you saw Janet. Today, I had a B. terrestris fly past me and 'cuddle up' to an outside brass tap. I suppose being in full sun and sheltered from the wind, the tap was giving off a bit of heat. The bee crawled under the hose which was coiled around the tap and remained for some time.

My garden is partially sheltered from east winds and it is now getting reasonably warm during the afternoons.

I did manage to photograph an Eristalis tenax female today. Very dark with only narrow dark orange wedges on the abdomen and a slight dusky wing smudge, as sometimes occurs at this time of the year. For a moment I did consider E. rupium! But the leg colours clearly confirmed E. tenax.

[LeoT]

I have been looking out for Bumblebees because I put a nest box out a couple of weeks ago. Since I hadn't seen any, I started looking for some wildlife forums to see if they were appearing yet. Looks like I might see some in the the next few days.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by LeoT

I have been looking out for Bumblebees because I put a nest box out a couple of weeks ago. Since I hadn't seen any, I started looking for some wildlife forums to see if they were appearing yet. Looks like I might see some in the the next few days.

I'm sure you'll see some on the next mild day. Here in London I've seen workers in small numbers through the winter.

Hope you have luck with your bumblebee box, but they often aren't used by them . By contrast some of the bee homes for other species such as Red Mason Bees are often very successful.

[LeoT]

I put out a solitary Bee hive a couple of years ago, but that hasn't been used, by Red Masons or any other type. It's not in a very good place which doesn't help. I might move it now I've thought of it.

[Hedera]

Several bombus terrestris flying today, and what I am sure was a B.lapidarius on the winter box (sarcococca)flowers. Temperature was 12 degrees in the sun.

[Geoff F]

Leo T, location apparently is critical for bee boxes etc to be successful. I'm intending to make some this year, if I find the time, and my reading on the subject suggests that they should face approximately south west with the tube entrances aligned south east to north west and be several feet above the ground.

But as Ashena said, the early bees which are starting to get around now are mostly ground nesters.

Things are certainly starting to get going now and I am seeing a few B. terrestris every day when it is sunny, plus the occasional B. lapidarius. Some hoverflies are starting to appear with Eristalis tenax appearing regularly and, subject to confirmation from another post, my first Platycheirus albimanus this year.

[LeoT]

My solitary Bee Hive is about 2' off the ground and faces south but it's not well sheltered which may be the problem. I'm going to leave it though because it's not too bad, i'll see how it goes this year.

I have a bit more hope for the Bumblebee nest box because it is very close to where some bees nested last year. It faces north and is in a wall about 3 feet off the ground. It does get the early sun there, from about may onwards.

Still no Bees in the garden yet though, at least not that I've seen.