Just found this this evening, anyone else think it's anything other than the work of a leaf cutter bee?
Pretty cool if it is, never seen evidence of one before.
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Could be a Holepunchasaurus but I think you're right, Jimny.
Wow that’s very unusual never seen that before
We have a bee hotel that has 6 holes in use so far this year.
A leaf cutter bee might have used it last year as one of the holes was covered with bits of green leaf - but not this year so far.
It would be quite easy to make one - just need a block of wood, drill some holes in about 3/8" I would think and fix to wall not too high.
We've had them in the past but not for 3 or 4 years. not sure why.
Such precise work, you almost have to accept the damage and respect the bee. Never seen it before.
It's a lovely thing to see, never seen their work before in the flesh. Now i have to try and see one actually working on a leaf. Wish I knew where it was living, I'm guessing not too far from the rose.
(01-07-2022, 08:36 AM)Mark_Riga Wrote: [ -> ]We have a bee hotel that has 6 holes in use so far this year.
A leaf cutter bee might have used it last year as one of the holes was covered with bits of green leaf - but not this year so far.
It would be quite easy to make one - just need a block of wood, drill some holes in about 3/8" I would think and fix to wall not too high.
The leafcutters have only just arrived in our bee hotel so there's still time. It's quite funny to see them carrying the leaf, it looks like they're surfing. We've had 10 or so holes used by mason bees so far this year.
This year I have found lots of evidence of leaf cutter bee activity. They cut out circlular pieces of leaf from shrub leaves for nesting material. I actually love the shapes they leave behind.... but the cocoons are amazing. They form little cigar shaped cocoons with the leaves cut from soft leaves plants ( mine were on my roses ) find a nesting site and travel back and for with its leaves, picking up pollen as it goes.It makes several of these little cocoons, lays an egg and leaves some nectar/pollen and closes up the chamber with a circular plug at the end of the bullet shaped nest.
If you are interested in reading more.... https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/pa...cutterbee/
Some rose leaves and some nests found in my garden.
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