Leaf Cutter BeeWhile sitting out in the garden recently eating dinner, we were attracted by audible munching noises from our wisteria plant. Further investigation showed a bee-like creature neatly chopping an oval piece out of a leaf then flying away with its prize. It then returned for another piece of leaf, and then several more.
Later research told us that it was indeed a bee—a leaf cutter bee in fact—a solitary but quite friendly creature that likes wisteria, rose and other leaves as nest making material.
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ive got a swarm of leaf cutters living in my lawn ,would like to know how to get rid of them,its a bit of an inconvenience,as we cant sit at front in the sunshine while they are buzzing around,so if any one can help me it would be gratefully appreciated thanks george england
Another remarkable feature of these bees is what they do with the segments of leaf they cut from your prize roses! We recently spotted a bee carrying a piece of leaf and disappearing into a hole in an exposed rafter. On examination we discovered that the wood was rotten and had numerous tunnels bored into it. Stacked end to end inside the tunnels were dozens of tube shaped leaf parcels. These looked like small cigars, were meticulously sealed at the end with a circular piece of leaf, and inside each was a small grub lying on a puddle of gloop which I guess was nectar and/or pollen. An amazing feat of engineering and construction by the bee – just bad news for our rafters!
For my birthday in September three years ago, I was given a bee house that was and is still sold at garden centres, it has 24 square holes. The first summer no bees showed any interest in it, year two we were sitting in the garden and we noticed a bee going into one of the holes. thought the day this bee keep coming back and was now bring in bits of leafs which we watch him cut from some of our flower plants in the garden. By the end of the second summer nine of the holes were completely filled up and four had what looked like something trying to fill them. In spring of year three we were hopeful that a bee may come out of one of the holes, but nothing happen. Now we are in July of year three and the bees are active again with most of the holes now filled up. What I would like to know is, is the bee just storing nectar or is this a nest where we would find a lava grub?
George, I would suggest the the best thing to do is enjoy the company of these fascinating creatures. They are not at all aggressive and unless seriously provoced are extremelely unlikely to cause you harm. I would suggest that you seek out the nest of one of these solitary creatures and marvel at the skill that they employ to make it. I work in propery maintenance and have only seen these nests in woodwork that is already in need of repair.