Looks like we have leaf cutter bees nesting in the roof of our garage. I watched them coming and going, carrying bits of leaves which they have cut from various plants, especially roses. I'm told that these are most likely Willoughby's leaf cutter bee.
Leaf cutters are solitary bees, which means that they don't build communal nests like bumble bees, each female makes it's own nest which might contain 20 larval cells. Each cell is provided with nectar and pollen for the larvae to feed on when they emerge. The fact that there were several bees entering the nest site today is probably just an indication of a good place to nest, rather than the bees working together.
Also with them, a sharp-tailed bee which is a cuckoo on leaf cutters, in other words it lets them do all of the work then lays it's eggs on or in the leaf cutters larval cells. When the larvae emerge they kill the host larvae and eat it's food supply.
Leaf cutter bees do not sting and are valuable pollinators in the the garden so they should be left well alone to get on with their lives. It's well worth a few cut leaves to have these wonderful insects in the garden.
The following is taken from the RHS website:
"Leaf-cutting bees are fascinating pollinators and a valuable part of garden wildlife, the leaf sections taken during the collection of nest material does not usually affect the vigour of plants. They should not be 'controlled'".
Notice the pollen on the underside of this bees abdomen!
Sharp-tailed bee waiting ominously for it's opportunity.
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