A' Bee Fest' summer in my garden!

On the 3rd day of July I noticed Bumblebees flying around and entering a nest box in my garden!! On closer inspection (well after photographing) of the bees they were identified as Tree bumblebees! I was informed that they are a useful pollinator and completely harmless as long as you leave them alone.

I had read that nests live for  2-3 months and they were thankfully in a part of the garden where they could be left in peace. The activity around the box was never more than around a dozen at a time. By the middle of July the activity had ceased, so after a couple of weeks of making sure the nest had been abandoned the nest box was opened and sadly to reveal that a Wax Moth had laid eggs in the box and it was now infested with it's caterpillars! It was a big disappointment to see that the bee nest had been destroyed, a few dead bees were found amongst the nesting material. The caterpillars were removed from the tough silk tunnels they had made in which they would overwinter given the chance! These did not have the chance, they were fed to the fish in my pond!

                                                                                           

     

 

 

 

14/07/2018    

A Leafcutter bee was sighted

carrying pieces of leaf and depositing them down into the gap that is between the frame of the chair and the seating material in order to make a nest!  The leaves unfortunately tumbled out of the gap at the bottom so all was in vain for the bee. I removed the chair to save the bee the effort on such a hot day!

 

 

 

 

 

16/07/2018

Two days later a Wasp was seen flying in the garden with it's prey...a moth! I have never witnessed this before!

 

 

 

The last couple of weeks has seen the arrival of numerous wasps in the garden and indoors! Apparently it is the worst year we have seen for the invasion of them in gardens etc due to the hot weather we have experienced and enjoyed!

 

All in all up to now it has been a good summer...no, a great one!