Are these Honey Bees?

[PaulCarroll]

Just out walking the dogs, when I noticed a hill, where the bank had eroded to leave a sandy soil based piece of ground. I observed a large number of bees flying in the area, so sat and watched for a few minutes. Bees were coming and going into numerous holes in the soil of the bank and they looked too big to be solitary bees and I believe them to be honey bees. I have not previously seen this scenario and wondered what the "learned" view is on this subject.


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[Swarm]

Not honey bees.

 

[Softley]

They're solitary mining bees - Common Colletes.

 

[masterBK]

Certainly mining bees but not necessarily Colletes (plasterer bees). Could also be an Andrena species such as A. flavipes (did they have yellow legs?) as they also tend to nest in large and dense aggregations.

 

[Daisy]

Colletes hederae (Ivy bee) are active now.

 

[PaulCarroll]

They were certainly active but as I readied my phone the heavens opened and the bees disappeared into the bank very quickly. I am grateful for the clarity on this. Really amazing what bees can do!!


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[Softley]

I was looking at the colour of the thorax and the definition in the banding on the abdomen. I don't think the legs are yellow on the picture, but all are possibilities. Have a look at the BWARS info sheets. Whichever it is, I wish I'd seen them!

Colletes succinctus:
http://www.bwars.com/sites/www.bwars.com/files/info_sheets/19_colletes_succinctus_1col_infosheet.pdf

Colletes hederae:
http://www.bwars.com/sites/www.bwars.com/files/info_sheets/01_Colletes_hederae_20100908.pdf

Andrena flavipes:
http://www.bwars.com/sites/www.bwars.com/files/info_sheets/Andrena_flavipes_infosheet.pdf

Thumbnail below is a crop of a bee in your photo:

 

[masterBK]

Having looked at the blow up of bee courtesy of Softley and considering the time of year it is most likely to be Colletes hederae. Well done Daisy

 

[PaulCarroll]

Thank you, fascinating. Having read the information sheets provided, I am inclined to agree that they are probably Colletes hederae. I revisited the site again and the activity was simply stunning, with the ground covered with bees hovering just above or on the floor. I have not seen this before and who says you are too old to learn. I appreciate the help and advice.


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[Curley]

I've received a swarm call for these about a week and a half ago, and at a fete my bee club had a stall at last weekend, we had 5 different people asking about them, so perhaps been a good year for them?

 

[PaulCarroll]

Seems that way, I have not noticed them before but it is often not until you take time to slow down and look that the natural world allows you to see things you have been too busy to see before!!


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[Birdie Wife]

Seems that way, I have not noticed them before but it is often not until you take time to slow down and look that the natural world allows you to see things you have been too busy to see before!!


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They do seem to be expanding their range - here's a post from the latest map of this year's records on the Bees Wasps and Ants Fb page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1590641777855221/permalink/1940974409488621/

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