Colony of bees or wasps in brickwork

TheGreenFrog

I have a small colony of bees or wasps in my brickwork.  House built in late 1860s so assume it is not a cavity wall.  They disappear into two small holes in the mortar.  About a dozen are hanging around outside at any one time trying to get in.  I daren't get too close to them but they are not yellowjackets but look like small wasps, although that may mean they are bees.  They don't seem interested in my wood furniture as yellowjackets are.  Anyway, am wondering what they could be and whether they are doing any damage to the walls - if not I will just leave them be as they do not seem aggressive.

RunsFromRobots

They are probably mason bees and unlikely to cause you any issues.

I had some a few years ago on the outside where the roof meets the wall. They were harmless.

TheGreenFrog

RunsFromRobots said:

They are probably mason bees and unlikely to cause you any issues.

I had some a few years ago on the outside where the roof meets the wall. They were harmless.

I had thought that mason bees were solitary though? 

Section62

TheGreenFrog said:

I have a small colony of bees or wasps in my brickwork.  House built in late 1860s so assume it is not a cavity wall.  They disappear into two small holes in the mortar.  About a dozen are hanging around outside at any one time trying to get in.  I daren't get too close to them but they are not yellowjackets but look like small wasps, although that may mean they are bees.  They don't seem interested in my wood furniture as yellowjackets are.  Anyway, am wondering what they could be and whether they are doing any damage to the walls - if not I will just leave them be as they do not seem aggressive.

Leave them be, they are unlikely to do the house any damage.

I think Mason bees are usually solitary, so if you've got a lot of bees using one nest hole then it probably isn't them.  Are they yellow or brown?

Keep_pedalling

They are almost certainly solitary bees or wasps, they are perfectly harmless and just taking advantage of the existing holes for nesting sites. They will not cause any damage. As you have more bees / wasps than holes those hanging around maybe  unlucky males or even another species waiting to take advantage. All solitary bees have their parasite including other bees. 

If you can get reasonable close try to get a photo. Although they can sting they are not aggressive and you won’t get stung unless you try to handle them. 

WIAWSNB

Do they sting? Does it hurt? How long does the swelling last for? Do they make you honey?
Anyhoo, let them be, and if you don't want them back, fill them holes during winter. I suppose.

Keep_pedalling

WIAWSNB said:

Do they sting? Does it hurt? How long does the swelling last for? Do they make you honey?
Anyhoo, let them be, and if you don't want them back, fill them holes during winter. I suppose.

The can sting but and although I have never been stung by one the sting is not su-posed to be very painful. Solitary wasps use their sting to paralyse their prey, which depending on species will be caterpillars, flies and other insects and some specialise in hunting spiders. Each individual captured prey will be sealed in a cell with an egg. The larvae that hatches will then feed on the still living prey its mother supplied for it. 

Bees fill their cells with pollen but they don’t make honey. 

TheGreenFrog

Section62 said:

TheGreenFrog said:

I have a small colony of bees or wasps in my brickwork.  House built in late 1860s so assume it is not a cavity wall.  They disappear into two small holes in the mortar.  About a dozen are hanging around outside at any one time trying to get in.  I daren't get too close to them but they are not yellowjackets but look like small wasps, although that may mean they are bees.  They don't seem interested in my wood furniture as yellowjackets are.  Anyway, am wondering what they could be and whether they are doing any damage to the walls - if not I will just leave them be as they do not seem aggressive.

Leave them be, they are unlikely to do the house any damage.

I think Mason bees are usually solitary, so if you've got a lot of bees using one nest hole then it probably isn't them.  Are they yellow or brown?

There are quite a few using one hole.  They are dull yellow and black.  Will leave them be as they don’t seem aggressive.

stuart45

Next door neighbour keeps honey bees, and they look like small wasps. 

Keep_pedalling

TheGreenFrog said:

Section62 said:

TheGreenFrog said:

I have a small colony of bees or wasps in my brickwork.  House built in late 1860s so assume it is not a cavity wall.  They disappear into two small holes in the mortar.  About a dozen are hanging around outside at any one time trying to get in.  I daren't get too close to them but they are not yellowjackets but look like small wasps, although that may mean they are bees.  They don't seem interested in my wood furniture as yellowjackets are.  Anyway, am wondering what they could be and whether they are doing any damage to the walls - if not I will just leave them be as they do not seem aggressive.

Leave them be, they are unlikely to do the house any damage.

I think Mason bees are usually solitary, so if you've got a lot of bees using one nest hole then it probably isn't them.  Are they yellow or brown?

There are quite a few using one hole.  They are dull yellow and black.  Will leave them be as they don’t seem aggressive.

Sounds like mason bees. Once they are finished they will seal the entrance with mud. 

https://www.nhsn.org.uk/species/red-mason-bee/

TheGreenFrog

I managed to photograph one (grounded after spraying with water).  looks like a wasp of some sort to me but am no expert.