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Insect nests?
Oh-my-aching-back!
Posts: 10
Whilst dividing up a hardy geranium I have uncovered several little mounds of earth, a bit like mini volcanoes. I'm guessing they're probably some sort of solitary bee nests, or perhaps hoverflies - there are lots of them flitting about. The trouble is, they're EXACTLY where I want to plant some bulbs.
If I disturb them, will the creatures find somewhere else to go, or should I leave them alone? Any advice?
Thanks!
0
Posts
that's where they came out
In the sticks near Peterborough
Of course you're right, I can see that now. (Thanks, Nutcutlet - I'm a bit dim when it comes to insects, and I'm only just getting to grips with my new big garden.)
Presumably I can dig over and plant with impunity. I know hoverflies are harmless and helpful friends, but they don't seem to like it one bit when I'm fossicking about in their flowerbed!
They should be gone & moved on soon enough if you can wait it out.
Solitary bee nests, not hoverflies. Could well be Ivy Bees at this time of year. PDF info sheet: http://www.bwars.com/sites/www.bwars.com/files/info_sheets/01_Colletes_hederae_20100908.pdf
That's really interesting - thanks. Don't think they're Ivy bees though (I'm in Norfolk), and I'm still not sure whether I should plant my bulbs or not....
I've found several more little mounds, in other parts of the garden, so they obviously like it here.
The distribution map in the PDF is several years out of date. The species has been expanding rapidly and it's widespread in Norfolk now, so don't rule it out just on geography. Either way, the holes will have been made by some kind of solitary bee.
Wait a month or so longer and they should be gone. Most bulbs are fine as long as they are planted by November/December.
The adult bees will disappear within a few weeks, but the new underground nests will still be in the same area, with eggs/grubs developing to hatch out into adult bees next autumn. So ideally I wouldn't dig up the whole area, although the loss of a few nests is unlikely to make much difference to the colony overall.
They absolutely fascinate me, if only they had picked my garden instead
Thank you, all of you, for your really helpful advice and information.
I've been studying them and my reference books closely, and I'm pretty sure that what I'm seeing now - sometimes poking out of the holes - are possibly a kind of Nomad bee (skinny, waspish, flight a bit like hoverflies, not aggressive). Does that make sense?
We seem to have lots of different bees in this new (to us) garden, including a nest of Bombus Muscorum hidden under moss in the orchard, and they're all welcome. The ground elder, bindweed and nettles..... less so, but perhaps that's what attracted the bees in the first place!
We'll just have to work together. I'll give them their space, if they'll give me mine.