Are these honey bees?

mattyk1985 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 01:52 PM

I have a hole just below a small brick wall and just further along the concrete floor another hole, each has around 10 - 15 bees flying around each hole going in and out when they go in they have pollen on their legs.

Problem is it is near were I park my car and each time i pull up there is around 40ish bees flying around and near the holes looking very agiatated.

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 02:08 PM

Afternoon Matty, and welcome to WAB!

These look more like Mining Bees to me; impossible to identify to species-level from the photo given though. Sorry!

Take care,

Jason

Matt Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 04:01 PM

Probably Andrena carantonica - these bees will make separate nests but uses a communal nest entrance. They are harmless, have a very weak (non-human skin breaking) sting and don't try to defend their nest sites like honey bees.

They look agitated because of the arrival of the car - it slightly confuses their "memory" of where their nest hole is and its a new "landmark" to learn. 10 -15 mins later all will be calm.

They will be around for another month to 6 weeks or so, after that all will be quiet untill next spring.