Bee ID please

[Boston Bees]

Had a call yesterday about bees in a wall.

I reckon early mining bees.

What does the forum say?

TIA

 

[Curly green finger's]

I Agree it looks like a mining bee

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Is that the wall (how high up?) or the ground? If it's a wall, it's more likely to be a mason bee.

 

[Boston Bees]

Is that the wall (how high up?) or the ground? If it's a wall, it's more likely to be a mason bee.

I know what you mean, but look at the colouring - definitely not a red mason bee, and definitely not a blue mason bee. Are there any other kinds?

 

[Anthony Appleyard]

Andrena - Wikipedia
Mason bee - Wikipedia

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Bee ID 2 could be a red mason bee. The third picture - may not be as the thorax is darker than some photos of them. That's why I asked if they are in a wall or on the ground as a minimg bee will not be likely to be high up in a wall.

 

[Boston Bees]

Bee ID 2 could be a red mason bee. The third picture - may not be as the thorax is darker than some photos of them. That's why I asked if they are in a wall or on the ground as a minimg bee will not be likely to be high up in a wall.

I didn't think mining bees went in walls either, but maybe there's an earth bank behind it - I'll asl

Anyway, no-one thinks these could be honeybees, right?

 

[Pembroke]

I didn't think mining bees went in walls either, but maybe there's an earth bank behind it - I'll asl

Anyway, no-one thinks these could be honeybees, right?

This article Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa)-life cycle part (1) suggests the will use a pre existing hole in the mortar of a wall if available. I heard about a nest in an old overflow pipe from a disused water tank in a house the other day. The article certainly suggests that just about anything with a hole in it that can be made into a nest will be utilised.

 

[Erichalfbee]

This article Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa)-life cycle part (1) suggests the will use a pre existing hole in the mortar of a wall if available. I heard about a nest in an old overflow pipe from a disused water tank in a house the other day. The article certainly suggests that just about anything with a hole in it that can be made into a nest will be utilised.

I think you're right
Last summer Stan and I took down an ancient pyracantha our house wall. Removing its support left a multitude of deep holes in the stone. Even as we were removing the screws mason bees were in the holes investigating them. Needless to say the wall remains peppered with holes filled now with bee cocoons. In the last few days the males, newly emerged, have been hawking them for the females about to

 

[Boston Bees]

I think you're right
Last summer Stan and I took down an ancient pyracantha our house wall. Removing its support left a multitude of deep holes in the stone. Even as we were removing the screws mason bees were in the holes investigating them. Needless to say the wall remains peppered with holes filled now with bee cocoons. In the last few days the males, newly emerged, have been hawking them for the females about to

But do any type of mason bee have black abdomens like the bees in the photo?

 

[Erichalfbee]

But do any type of mason bee have black abdomens like the bees in the photo?

Yes
It’s Andrena scotica
The chocolate mining bee

 

[Boston Bees]

Yes
It’s Andrena scotica
The chocolate mining bee

I said mason bees

 

[Erichalfbee]

So you did. I got carried away finding out what they were.

 

[user 819]

It might be Andrenna haemorrhoa.

 

[Boston Bees]

It might be Andrenna haemorrhoa.

That was, and is, my guess, as mentioned in my original post

Still surprised to see mining bees of any kind in a stone wall, but heh, perhaps there is clay or soil in there

 

[Erichalfbee]

It might be Andrenna haemorrhoa.

I asked Matt Smith of BWARS