[madcat]

Sharonx - leave them be unless you are life threateningly allergic to bee stings.  We used to get them in the lawn - they are solitary bees making a nest for just their eggs.  They wont be any problem and will polinate your flowers.  I am very allergic to stings and bites, but have never had a problem with bees.  They just get on with their lives and leave you to yours.   

Now - horseflies!  They are a different matter entirely 

[SG6]

Really need a picture.
I think every species of bee has been suggested so far and a wasp.

Alternatively search through the web for bee species and see if you can identify them.

[SG6]

Here goes:
FSC laminated guide to Bees of Britain has just arrived.
Options are:
1) Buff tailed bumblebee,
2) White tailed bumble
3) Early bumblebee
4) Common carder beebee
5) Garden bumblebee
6) Red tailed bumblebee
7) Forest cuckoo bumblebee
Shrill carder bumblebee
9) Brown banded carder bumblebee
10) Tree bumblebee
11) Honey bee
12) Ivy mining bee
13) Davies mining bee
14) Tawney mining bee
15) Communial mining bee
16) Early mining bee
17) Hairy footed flower bee
18) Slender mining bee
20) Brassey mining bee
21) Willughbys leafcutter bee (C)
22) Common maskeed bee (C)
23) Harebell carpenter bee )C)
24) Red mason bee (C)
25) Blue mason bee (C)
26) Wool carder bee (C)
27) Sharp tailed bee
28) Fabricus nomad bee
29) Panzers nomad bee

The ones with (C) after them are classed as Cavity nesting bees.
A couple in this catagory bear a slight resemblance to wasps, either shape or a small amount of yellow/black colouring.

[Sharonx]

Thanks Madcat
I don't have a problem with leaving them if they are solitary, I didn't really want loads though. Does this mean I can't water my plants though?

[madcat]

The lawn got rained on and they were fine!  Their system must be designed to cope with rain or they would be extinct.  If the pots got water logged the bees and the conifers would hate it.  So ...  I guess, be like a cloud! 

[Paul Plots]

Here goes:
FSC laminated guide to Bees of Britain has just arrived.
Options are:
1) Buff tailed bumblebee,
2) White tailed bumble
3) Early bumblebee
4) Common carder beebee
5) Garden bumblebee
6) Red tailed bumblebee
7) Forest cuckoo bumblebee
Shrill carder bumblebee
9) Brown banded carder bumblebee
10) Tree bumblebee
11) Honey bee
12) Ivy mining bee
13) Davies mining bee
14) Tawney mining bee
15) Communial mining bee
16) Early mining bee
17) Hairy footed flower bee
18) Slender mining bee
20) Brassey mining bee
21) Willughbys leafcutter bee (C)
22) Common maskeed bee (C)
23) Harebell carpenter bee )C)
24) Red mason bee (C)
25) Blue mason bee (C)
26) Wool carder bee (C)
27) Sharp tailed bee
28) Fabricus nomad bee
29) Panzers nomad bee

The ones with (C) after them are classed as Cavity nesting bees.
A couple in this catagory bear a slight resemblance to wasps, either shape or a small amount of yellow/black colouring.

Amazing how many different types of bees we have here, isn't it. To tell you the truth I thought it was a lot more! 

At uni we had a chap who was mad about the little buzzers and made this his main study - hives everywhere!! 

[SG6]

Had to do it

Had a couple of the FSC guides and decided to get the one on clouds, so I looked through all they offered as I thought I may as well get 3 and British Bees was one of them.

They dropped through the door and this post was there about bees so the list was posted.

Now I need to sit somewhere and watch clouds. That'll be hard work.

[poultrygeist]

Had a couple of the FSC guides

the Financial Services Commission ?  :blink:

Rob

[Paul Plots]

I'm slightly confused too about FSC 

[poultrygeist]

Forestry Stewardship Council ?

[poultrygeist]

Just found this one...

http://www.field-studies-council.org/

Looks more promising.

[Paul Plots]

Flipping Stinging Critters ? 

[Paul Plots]

Just found this one...

http://www.field-studies-council.org/

Looks more promising.

Now that does make more sense - thanks! 

[BobandJack]

Well personally I'd be delighted to have hairy footed flower bees in my garden  I have a mental image of them with little hairy feet - it's the small things that keep us going ain't it?    I proofed my husband's dissertation on parasitic Varroa Mites on honey bees, it was really fascinating stuff.  Up until then I though we had honey bees & bumble bees and that was it & had no idea they could be parasiting by gigantic (by bee standards) mites.  Poor honey bees, they've been having a tough time of it over the last few years