strange fly entered my hive

loving_allsorts · Jul 1, 2011

I've been seeing a strange fly around my hive of late and I sat watching it and it went into teh hive while the bees were very busy. It fist flew up into groups of bees I guess getting the smeel of them onto him, then in he went.

As a description I'd say he looked like a cross between a blue bottle (shimmery blue colour), a horse fly (size and wings) and a bumble bee (mid body white band and looks like a bee when flies). Could somebody possibly offer me some sugestions so I can look it up? anybody have any ideas if this is damaging to the hive?

Many thanks

Mark

Erichalfbee · Jul 1, 2011

Sounds like a Blue Horse Bee......I'm sure your bees will sort it out

drstitson · Jul 1, 2011

Large Hive Beetle (uncertain relationship to SHB)?

Gardenbees · Jul 1, 2011

Sounds a bit like a blue mason bee. Only the females look really blue (iridescent, like a bluebottle). They live in holes, including holes in wood, so might be attracted to the hive entrance to investigate. If it's a mason bee they are no threat to honeybees (and they are useful pollinators in their own right!).

If it was really vast - over twice the size of a honeybee, and chunky in build - then it might possibly have been one of the few Violet carpenter bees that get spotted in England from time to time. Also harmless to honeybees (unless they decide to make their home in the wood of the hive!).

For want of a better word · Jul 1, 2011

I saw a megga bee today, Maybug size but with luminescent green what looked like pollen sacks... I may bee many things but I baint bee no entymolligist!!!

loving_allsorts · Jul 3, 2011

I've checked google images and none of the insects mentioned above are what I saw. It was larger than a honey bee. The wings were really very similar to the horse fly. Thee was a distinctive white band mid body under its wings. It flew like a bee. I really wish I had my camera. I did a hive inspection today and the bees were more agressive than normal but I don't think the two things are related. I also couldn't find the 'visitor' maybe he is just on the rob.

Mark