Just outside enjoying the sun whilst it lasts, Sat eating my BBQ and notice a constant coming and going of what look like bee's entering and
leaving a little hole in my external wall.
Can anyone identify the insects from my photo's and if possible advise on how to get rid of them. At the moment they're not doing any harm
but I'm sure it can't be a good thing. Also, If they're not going to contribute to my mortgage then they gotta go!
Regards,
Mark.
I remember a family in our village (Tollerton, Notts) whose house was partly destroyed by bees eating into the walls. Can't find any reference to it on the 'net (it was way before the internet was invented) but this might help Linky
yes they are bees and its a beheading offence to kill them.Ask a local pest controller for advice and help.
Tell 'em about the honey mommy
look like zombie flys.
looks more like wasps to me.
Either solitary bees or masonry bees.
Solitary bees are harmless - they just want a hole in which to lay a few eggs (not many). A little later the young bees come out and the hole is
vacant again.
Masonry bees are much the same, except they may excavate in the wall a bit (depends on the mortar).
Agree with David Jenkins oh and I am a Pest Controller
Anyone ever seen a Wood-Wasp (apart from Bowood... obviously!).
They are HUUUUUUUUUGE!
We get hornets around my village... get one of those in the kitchen and it's like a Dornier bomber flying around! Mostly harmless and not
aggressive, unless you accidentally tread on one, or make it think you're attacking it, or get far too close to a nest. You really DON'T
want to get stung by a hornet... I don't mind them because they eat wasps, and I hate wasps...
Hornets
[Edited on 19/4/11 by David Jenkins]
aren't they honey bees, as opposed to the regular bumble bee that we see, which aren't the ones making honey?
bumble bee link
honey bee link
Neither, I believe. Bumbles are fat and hairy (and harmless), while honey bees are quite small, dark-coloured and mostly found either on flowers or around nests/hives.
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Anyone ever seen a Wood-Wasp (apart from Bowood... obviously!).
They are HUUUUUUUUUGE!
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Either solitary bees or masonry bees.
Solitary bees are harmless - they just want a hole in which to lay a few eggs (not many). A little later the young bees come out and the hole is vacant again.
Masonry bees are much the same, except they may excavate in the wall a bit (depends on the mortar).
Just sent the photo's over to a local bee expert and he has identified them as red masonry bee's. Big pat on the back to those of you who
spotted that.
Apparently they'll only be around for a few weeks and will just be laying eggs, not setting up home. Not sure what to do about the eggs though
as it could become a recurring issue... I'll have to have a think about that one.
Thanks all.
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Anyone ever seen a Wood-Wasp (apart from Bowood... obviously!).
They are HUUUUUUUUUGE!
quote:
Originally posted by Mark G
Not sure what to do about the eggs though as it could become a recurring issue... I'll have to have a think about that one.
I was beaten to it but plugging the hole would be my first though (Though I'm terrified of flying bugs so my first thought would be run away and
my second delegation).
Don't try going after them with an air gun, it just leaves you with loads of holes.
quote:
Originally posted by bowood14
Agree with David Jenkins oh and I am a Pest Controller
quote:
Originally posted by morcus
I was beaten to it but plugging the hole would be my first though (Though I'm terrified of flying bugs so my first thought would be run away and my second delegation).
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Agreed. The coming and going is more than likely the same bee over and over again.
We have a similar thing in our garden, turns out they're mining bees, little mounds of earth in the grass with holes in. Completely non aggressive, quite nice to see now we know what they are!!
Don't block the hole, it's for cavity wall drainage. LINKY. As for the insect, I don't know but it
looks like that's been covered.
quote 'Allows water drainage while preventing entry of large insects.'
[Edited on 20/4/11 by RoadkillUK]
Yep, looks like a bee to me. Shouldn't give you too much hassle unless you P them off!
Now wasps.....I keep getting the gits hanging around the garage looking for a likely nest site. They did that last year and I ended up with a tennis
ball-sized nest between the tool board and the garage door. As soon as I spotted it I waited until dusk and torched the mothers!! Also got a football
sized nest in the loft which took a lot more to get rid of. Getting stung by one wasp is bad enough but getting stung by an angry mob is nasty!
We also get Hornets, and as already said, they are mostly harmless and best of all they eat Wasps