WARRISTON ALLOTMENTS
  • Home
  • Warriston Info
    • Guidelines
    • Visiting Warriston
    • Communal Bin
    • Remove or Recycle
    • Warriston Allotments Association
    • Maps
  • On Your Plot
    • Pest or Guest >
      • Pest or Guest ARCHIVE
    • Variety of the Month >
      • Variety ARCHIVE
    • Recipe of the Month >
      • Recipe ARCHIVE
    • Wildlife@Warriston
  • News and Events
    • Warriston News
    • Old Warriston news
    • Edinburgh Events
    • Outside Edinburgh
    • Roving Reports >
      • RR: Gardening Scotland 2017 Warriston Win
      • RR: Warriston Plant Sale
      • RR: Warriston Survey 2017
      • RR: FEDAGA Show
      • RR: GQT at RBGE
      • Summerside Nursery 21
  • Gallery
    • Veg Gallery
    • Views Gallery
    • Vintage Gallery
  • Useful Links
  • Contact
Picture
Illustration ©  nic-nic 2019

Pest or guest of the month


This monthly selection offers a description of some of Warriston's beasty and 'beastly' inhabitants and advice on how to live with them organically. Find more in our Pest or Guest archive

May 2019—Solitary Bees

Thanks to an east side plot holder for this month's solitary guests.

What are solitary bees?

We are all familiar with bumblebees and honey bees, but these are greatly outnumbered by solitary bees. In Britain there are an estimated 270 species of bee, approximately 250 of which are solitary mining bees and of theses only 14 species are commonly identified in Scotland and to be found on your allotment or in your garden. Most common genera of solitary bees found in Scotland are Halictus, Osmia Andrena, Megachile and Colletes.  

These bees can be amazingly effective pollinators and as the name suggests tend not to live in colonies like bumblebees and honey bees. Solitary bees often nest in the ground, preferring dry protected sites. Each female excavates a nest in soil and provisions her own burrow with pollen and nectar for her offspring. However, it's not unusual to find dozens of ground bee nests in one area if conditions are suitable for nesting. Males may fly over the burrows, patrolling for potential mates.

Female ground bees can sting, but rarely do. These bees are not aggressive. However, they will sting in defence if threatened. Males of some species may behave aggressively around nesting areas, but they lack a sting.

Finally, solitary bee nesting activity is limited to spring, so bees won't stay for long. Unless you have concerns for a bee venom allergy, it's usually preferable to leave ground nesting bees alone.

Text: NR



Picture
Mining Bee: Halictus rubicundus
Photo Credit: Laurence Packer 2014

Picture
Tawny Mining Bee: Andrena fulva
Photo Credit: Claudia Watts


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.