Mediteranian Bee sighting in the uk

[Stephen Rutt]

In September in Pont Farcy, Normandy,I found three half inch holes in a fencing post, one seemed in the process of being bored since it was only a quarter of an inch deep. i have rather poor resolution pictures of these. I glimpsed a bumble bee size black insect disappear into one hole but could not identify it and did not see it again. I have never seen one before. Could this be Xylocopa violacea? If so is it an unusual sighting and is it likely to use the same site as a nest next year?

[eucera]

This will almost certainly be X. violacea (which is well known in Normandy). However, all sightings are of interest to hymenopterists both here and in France. I shall pass on this information to the "Apodea Gallica" group who will be grateful.

Adult Xylocopa (both sexes) overwinter, and so the boring may be used as a hibernaculum over the winter, and very probably as a nest next year.