mining bees??

I was in the garden yesterday and noticed a bit of bee activity and wondered what they are. They appear to be some type of mining bee as they seem to be attracted to a certain stretch of soil and there are lots of holes. I am told these dont sting so i have no problem with them being there but I was under the impression that mining bees prefer sandy soil and the bit where they are is really heavy clay so maybe they arent mining bees but some other type of bee. I will be very brave and try to get a close up photo so i can identify it a bit better but if anyone can give me some info it would be appreciated.

 

Here's an article about them
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/solbee.htm
They are only around for a short time and are important pollinators for your fruit trees! They will sting if under attack but very feebly.

 

Ah! You beat me to it Lazy G!

I was also watching these delightfull little bees yesterday as they were excavating and carting off mud from a rather wet piece of ground near an outside water tap.

I searched around last night and I think they are Red Mason Bees (Osmia rufa) Seems they are even better early pollinators than honey bees because they will fly in lower temperatures and visit more flowers. They are also very docile and just go about their business so very safe to have around the garden.

HERO: Gentle bee seeks garden home

There is also a good RHS site but I can't get the link to work because of HTML restrictions :confused: (Google RHS mason bee)

I'll see if I can get some pics of them today to confirm ID although it's quite chilly and damp up here compared to the glorious weather we've had over the past couple of days.

[ 12. May 2006, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

I found this site with lots of pictures:

www.glaucus.org.uk/SolitaryBee.html

I was looking for an insect in my garden that looks very much like a bee but has white and black stripes rather than yellow and black. It must be some kind of hover fly but it even flies like a bee. :confused:

 

liz- found a photo of a black and white bee in a book. have a bit of a google to see if they are like yours . the first is Epeolus cruciger (type of mining bee i think) or there is a melecta lutuosa which is also black and white. Of course it could always be an albino one!!

 

There were just a few about today before the heavens opened up and the pics I did manage have not come out well so I won't post them. I'll try again on Monday

(Mutters dark mutterings about stupid auto focus cameras! )