Help!! Ground bees in veg patch?

SmallEnglish

I started a veg patch this year which so far is doing well - lots of little plants! At the weekend I noticed a couple of bees hanging around - they look like honey bees. I didn't think too much of it, quite glad really as I'll need the bees to pollinate my plants later!

Today I've gone out and there are about 10 of these bees, and it looks like they are going in and out of the ground in the corner of my patch. My veg plants don't have flowers yet so I don't understand what has attracted them... Are they making a nest in the ground? If so, should I leave them or get a beekeeper (or someone!) to come? I don't mind the bees and am happy to leave them if I can but if they are making a nest I am worried that the bees will get angry with me pottering about in my veg patch.

Any advice will be much appreciated!!

kate83

It's fairly unusual to have 10 bees go into one hole - most of the ground nesting bees are solitary bees so normally just 1 per hole (normally like a very small mole hill with a hole in the centre). The only ones I can think of are bumble bees but I'm guessing you'd recognise them.

Solitary bees are very docile and unlikely to get angry. Bumble bees are also fairly friendly and normally only sting when really provoked (poked, picked up, stood on etc)

I'd leave them too it if you can and try not to disturb the nest

Davesnave

Nothing to worry about.

Have a look at this:

http://www.insectpix.net/solitary_bees_gallery.htm

SmallEnglish

Thanks for the reassurance - I shall leave them be! (no pun intended) :T