pests

[dondons]

when I mowed my lawn last week I noticed little holes with a mound of soil around them. On closer study I noticed bee like creatures flying around. Each hole is on its own although there are more than a dozen in the area. Are these creatures going to be a problem or are they some form of strange bee that will be an asset to the gardedo they sting as they are right by the front door and I'm worried that there numbers might increase if I don't do anything. Should I get rid of them or are they alright to leave alone??????

[jjf2003]

It sounds like a solitary bee (of which there are 250 species in Britain). They make nests in gardens, unlike social bees like honey bees or bumble bees which live in a hive in great numbers or swarms. Solitary bees are useful to the garden as they pollinate plants. The female can sting, but its sting is weaker than other bees and only sting if roughly handled. They will not swarm or gang up on you.

[Cetti]

It's called a Mining Bee and as ijf says it's solitary and very beneficial as a pollinator for fruit trees. It's also called the Lawn Bee for obvious reasons.

The female makes her own burrow, sometimes 2ft deep. She digs with her fore feet and brushes the earth behind her with her hind feet.

Leave her in peace as these hard working little ladies will be dead in July, and she won't cause any problems.

[RATTER15]

They could be ants bees or wasps, it sounds more like sand wasps, found in sandy soil, they are smaller than an ordinary wasp with no sting.