Leaf Cutter Bee
I believe this to be a leaf cutter bee. This photograph shows it entering a hole that it has made in a flower pot that is supported within an old elongated chimney which we use as a feature on a patio. The flower pot is in a sunny position. I have also seen a leaf cutter bee using the same flower pot within chimney (but when it was in a different position) last year. Further down the garden is another chimney with flower pot which I have also seen used by a bee. My wife has seen this bee at rest on the floor with a cut leaf before entering the hole.
As can be seen, it has a very noticable rear lower abdomen (white ... perhaps pollen covered). Wings held out wide (bad design for something that has to enter a hole).
I also have a photograph of the same bee emerging from the hole at an earlier date.
This bee is about the size of a honey bee. Below ground it must be able to turn around, as it emerges head first.
Leaf Cutter Bee
I believe this to be a leaf cutter bee. This photograph shows it entering a hole that it has made in a flower pot that is supported within an old elongated chimney which we use as a feature on a patio. The flower pot is in a sunny position. I have also seen a leaf cutter bee using the same flower pot within chimney (but when it was in a different position) last year. Further down the garden is another chimney with flower pot which I have also seen used by a bee. My wife has seen this bee at rest on the floor with a cut leaf before entering the hole.
As can be seen, it has a very noticable rear lower abdomen (white ... perhaps pollen covered). Wings held out wide (bad design for something that has to enter a hole).
I also have a photograph of the same bee emerging from the hole at an earlier date.
This bee is about the size of a honey bee. Below ground it must be able to turn around, as it emerges head first.