Bee and insect hotel.

[mrbadexample]

Great photos MBE!

As soon as I get close with a camera, the bees whizz off. How long did you wait to get that shot?

Actually, not very long. It's a leafcutter. When it flies off you know it'll be back in two minutes with another bit of leaf.

I was more pleased with the photos of this ichneumon wasp:



But I can't get it identified because the Wild About Britain website is no more. Gutted - that was a great resource.

Sorry to hear about your beewolves.

[Gillykat]

Further googling tells me each bee wolf makes up to 34 tunnels, each tunnel being provisioned with 1 - 6 bees. That's 200 bees per wasp. Next time I see it I won't just look, I'll SWAT!

I'd never heard of Bee Wolf Wasps so had to google it None up here in Northumberland from what I can gather BUT...it looks like they prey on honey bees, not bumbles or solitary bees, so I would just enjoy it's presence as part of a natural healthy ecosystem

Beginners bees, wasps & ants: Philanthus triangulum - beewolf | BWARS

LOVE that insect hotel from Barcelona....I've got an old shelving unit in the shed which I'm going to pull out at some point but I may just see if I can use it's frame and shelves as the basis for a home for insects and other goodies on the plot

[mrbadexample]

LOVE that insect hotel from Barcelona....

Me too. Sagrada familia - fine. Gaudi's house - quite good. Olympic stadium and museum - really great. Insect house in some garden - FANTASTIC!