burrowing bees

thesidings · #1 (**permalink**) 24-03-2011, 08:17 PM

hi. Yesterday we found lots of tiny 'vocanoes' in the soil with a few small bees flying about. the volcanos are concentrated in a smallish area, about 2m sq
Ive put a couple of images in the Gallery in the hope that someone can help find out what they are and whether they are dangerous/making a big nest underground etc.
thanks

Matt Smith · #2 (**permalink**) 24-03-2011, 08:23 PM

You need to post a thumbnail of your images in the forums otherwise we have trouble tracking them down.

Your bees are likely to be a species of solitary bee. These are harmless.

Africa · #3 (**permalink**) 24-03-2011, 11:30 PM

You could check for tawny mining bees (Andrena fulva), which nest on the ground and are common in lawns and parks and appear this time of the year, but it could be other species. I couldn't find your photos in the Gallery either.

crazikat2002 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2011, 08:01 PM

Hi
i have discovered these today too.....having lived in africa i thought they were termites until i saw a reddish/orange bee fly into one....and if you look closely into the holes you can see the bee inside.....

I just need to know if they are dangerous as i'm allergic to normal bees....and if they are going to be a problem......i have about 10 mounds on my front lawn and a few in the flower beds....

any suggestions on what to do about them...

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazikat2002

Hi
i have discovered these today too.....having lived in africa i thought they were termites until i saw a reddish/orange bee fly into one....and if you look closely into the holes you can see the bee inside.....

I just need to know if they are dangerous as i'm allergic to normal bees....and if they are going to be a problem......i have about 10 mounds on my front lawn and a few in the flower beds....

any suggestions on what to do about them...

They sound like Andrena fulva, the Tawny mining bee. Leave them be, they will pollinate fruit crops and are totally harmless. Enjoy watching them.

thesidings · #6 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011, 10:05 AM

Hi. hopefully the pics will display below now. sorry, its taken me a while to understand how this forum and images work!

eucera · #7 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011, 10:41 AM

This looks like a female Andrena clarkella, an early spring species associated with Sallow. I am perfectly happy to pick up specimens of Andrena in my fingers. They are quite incapable of delivering a sting (in my experience).