What beastie do I have here?

grindle Top Member Tamar Valley Posts: 19,750	What beastie do I have here? Jul 9, 2015 4:29:07 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by grindle on Jul 9, 2015 4:29:07 GMT not seen one before either, what a lovely colour

SueA
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What beastie do I have here? Jul 9, 2015 20:43:47 GMT grindle, peony, and 1 more like this

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Post by SueA on Jul 9, 2015 20:43:47 GMT

I don't think I've seen one of those before either Bess , very unusual colour.
We did have another moth in our bathroom a couple of weeks ago which I hadn't seen before & I had to look up, it was a brimstone moth.

grindle Top Member Tamar Valley Posts: 19,750	What beastie do I have here? Jul 10, 2015 6:36:17 GMT peony, SueA, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by grindle on Jul 10, 2015 6:36:17 GMT found this climbing in my birch yesterday and from what I can see it's the Grey Dagger moth caterpillar

Bess Top Member Posts: 1,151	What beastie do I have here? Jul 13, 2015 1:01:37 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Bess on Jul 13, 2015 1:01:37 GMT That's a lovely moth too, Sue, i've only ever seen one before on holiday at a park in Shropshire. We were right next to a huge swathe of uncut wildflowers, and we got loads of lovely bugs come in the windows.

Bess
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What beastie do I have here? Feb 3, 2016 13:25:36 GMT SueA likes this

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Post by Bess on Feb 3, 2016 13:25:36 GMT

Thought I might as well dust this thread off instead of starting a new one.

I was doing some painting on the doorway today in the sun, and was intrigued to see about 5/6 or more of these little wasps/bees kept coming back to my yucky, sodden old coir door mat, circling around and then landing on it for a few minutes. Looking closer, I could see some of them wiggling their abdomens up and down, but I have no idea why.

Any idea what they were doing? Collecting something off it? Drinking water out of it? I can still hear them buzzing out there now as I have to door open! (I am a bit embarrassed I can't tell most wasps/bees apart but I just haven't got the patience.)

Last Edit: Feb 3, 2016 13:26:24 GMT by Bess

daitheplant Top Member Posts: 6,385	What beastie do I have here? Feb 3, 2016 20:00:37 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by daitheplant on Feb 3, 2016 20:00:37 GMT I think they may be Black-Tailed Bees, Bess, but, SueA will surely let us know.

SueA
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What beastie do I have here? Feb 3, 2016 21:12:20 GMT grindle, peony, and 1 more like this

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Post by SueA on Feb 3, 2016 21:12:20 GMT

I think they're honey bees Bess , there must be a hive/nest not far from you & they've come out for a breath of fresh air because the sun's out. They could have been drinking from the mat I suppose & they waggle their bottoms to tell each other where to go but I've also read that they sometimes leave the hive in winter to 'poo' so you could have a 'bee toilet' outside!

Cherry Global Moderator Posts: 17,970	What beastie do I have here? Feb 4, 2016 5:56:55 GMT SueA and Bess like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Cherry on Feb 4, 2016 5:56:55 GMT Oh dear Bess, but you did say the mat was a bit grotty!

SueA Global Moderator Posts: 17,916	What beastie do I have here? Feb 4, 2016 8:38:56 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by SueA on Feb 4, 2016 8:38:56 GMT Great pics. by the way Bess !

Bess
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What beastie do I have here? Feb 4, 2016 19:16:59 GMT SueA likes this

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Post by Bess on Feb 4, 2016 19:16:59 GMT

Yes, they came out pretty well given the sun was so strong I couldn't see what I was photographing. Just had to point the camera and hope for the best!

Thanks for the info. I wonder where the honey-bees came from then, my flat is in a very 'urban' area, without proper gardens close by, and it's not the sort of area I imagine they'd make a long trip to, even to use my doormat as a toilet! I don't get many insects at all, and mainly single bees, which is why I particularly noticed so many together. I hope they aren't nesting somewhere on my little patio area as it's about to get taken to bits as we move house. I shall have to keep an eye out.

SueA
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What beastie do I have here? Feb 4, 2016 19:47:49 GMT

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Post by SueA on Feb 4, 2016 19:47:49 GMT

I think you'd have noticed if they were living on your patio Bess, you'd be surprised how many people keep bees nowadays in urban areas, it seems to be fashionable so they could be from close by. I'd love to have some but they seem like quite hard work if you want to keep them healthy & I don't think the neighbours would be too happy!

thecrackedpotgardener: this is the voice of the thecrackedpotgardener your are not alone i am watching you all mwhahahahahahahahaha Sept 28, 2018 17:25:34 GMT

joysie21: Do anyone buy the gardeners world magazine as I want to enter competitions I have the gardeners answer magazine which is free with lloyds club account Nov 5, 2018 9:19:29 GMT

libralady: Hello Bess, I have resurrected your post about using elderflowers. I will try the fizz but could you please send your recipes for the cordial and syrup. Thanks and regards. Nov 21, 2018 18:03:23 GMT