Solitary bees and solitary wasps using the nest box

Some bees will use the nest box to rest during the day, sleep overnight, find shelter or nest, as have several species of solitary wasp. 2018 saw an increase in solitary bees and wasps using it. If you have a new species to add to the list please contact me! Thanks, George

Halictus rubicundus – Orange-legged Furrow Bee at Kew Gardens

Bee species will depend upon where you live.

Solitary bees that have used the nest box:

1     Megachile centuncularis, Patchwork leafcutter bee;

2    Megachile willughbiella, Willughby’s leafcutter bee (with oven gloves!);

3    Osmia leaiana, Orange-vented mason bee;

4    Osmia caerulescens, Blue mason bee;

5    Anthidium manicatum,  Wool carder bee;

6     New! Heriades truncorum, Large-headed mason bee; at Kew by KH

7     Coelioxys sharp-tailed cuckoo bees.

8     New! Hyleaus communis Yellow-faced bee making her nest

9     New! Megachile versicolor, Brown-footed leafcutter bee

10     Osmia bicornis, Red Mason bee (latecomers will use it)

11     New!  Hylaeus signatus male at Kew by KH

12     New! Hairy-footed flower bee female resting

13    NEW! Megachile ligniseca. Wood carving solitary bee

14   NEW! Anthophora quadrimaculata male at Kew by KH

15    Halictus rubicundus – Orange-legged Furrow Bee at Kew by KH

Anthophora quadrimaculata male using a Nurturing Nature nest box by Hauke Koch Nature

I can’t wait to add Osmia cornunta to this list, a recent arrival here.

What’s that bee in your new nest box? It would be handy to learn about the increase in bee species and possibly their identification. To point you in the right bee identification direction I can 100% recommend Steven Falk’s Field Guide to Bees of Great Britain and Ireland. I do not receive any remuneration from this recommendation

Thanks to Prof Phil Stevenson and Dr Hauke Kocke for Kew Gardens photos/films and author Kate Bradbury for the Hairy Footed Flower Bee photo.