Back To
April 2006 On well trodden clay sanday shale path , burrows with Volcanic mounsof powdery clay , indivcative of Solitary Bees. These burrows where found in staggered proximity along the well trodden footpath for about 100 ft at the edge of a tree line in a predominantly Oak wood although one Sycamore was in close proximity
Many solitary bees nest in the ground and seal the nest with soil (these are known commonly as mining bees, e.g. species of Andrena).
Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) is one of many species, seen in early spring around gardens , digging nest burrows in lawns and similar places. This bee is about the size as a honeybee, but covered in fairly dense golden hairs.
Female bees make a small volcano-like mound with the soil excavated from the nest. There may be many nests close together, giving impression of communal life, each female is actually working alone. Nesting activity lasts only a short time (perhaps 2-3 weeks), after which the small mounds of earth around each nest entrance soon disappear, with no permanent damage to the lawn.Solitary bee mounds have a single large entrance hole in the middle, and by watching for a short while on a warm sunny day, you will see the bees coming and going to collect pollen
What are solitary bees?
Most people think of the social bees, swarms of honey bees, or gangs of bumblebees when they think of bees. In fact the vast majority of bees are solitary, living out their lives as single bees, provisioning single nest cells, rather than working with many other bees to raise huge numbers of offspring in shared nests. Find out more: solitary beesAre solitary bees interesting?
YEs they have adapted to many ecological scenarios mason bees, leafcutters, mining bees, white faced bees, carder bees, cuckoo bees and loads more. Many have interesting life historiesHow many sorts of solitary bee are there?
Around 250 different species of solitary bee in Britain. Worldwide there are an estimated 20 - 30,00 species! A surprising number of solitary bees occur in gardens. A few simple actions can help a wide range of these wonderful creatures to survive in and around your garden.Give A Soiltary Bee A Home - Solitary Bee Home
Links
MOre About Solitary Bees Solitary Bees
bravenet.com