one side of one Nurturing Nature nest box 3/7/21 with bee 3 species

Megachile ligniseca, Osmia leaiana and Hyleaus communis share the same side I could have selected another side or another nest box, but to be honest, this was the nearest to me and it was raining! We have a newly started Megachile ligniseca, the woodcarving bee, with...
Ectemnius solitary wasps using a Nurturing Nature nest box

Ectemnius solitary wasps using a Nurturing Nature nest box

Ectemnius solitary wasps Although there are several species of Ectemnius solitary wasps in the UK, I think probably the ones in the film are male  Ectemnius continuus. which according to Jeremy Early, are very similar in appearance is E. rupicola.  This species...
What is a vestibular cell in a Red mason bee nest?

What is a vestibular cell in a Red mason bee nest?

What is the vestibular cell in a Red mason bee nest? In the photograph below you will see all but one cell (red star) has what is called a vestibulum, (pl. vestibuli). This is the outermost cell within a nesting cavity and is usually an empty cell, with no provisions,...
How do Red mason bees get out of their mud cells?

How do Red mason bees get out of their mud cells?

The mud cells inside a Red mason bee nest are very hard. Many people know that Red mason bee females seal their cells with mud to protect their offspring from potential harm and to keep the internal cell environment conducive to the success of its contents. The mud...