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AdamBees New Bee
Joined: 20 Jun 2017 Posts: 2 Location: St Albans, Hertz
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:15 am Post subject: Tiny Bee... Stingless? |
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I've signed up for the forum because I'm curious about what I saw.
I live in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK.
In my front garden, working the wildflowers I leave there, was a very tiny bee. It could fit in a box probably 2.5 mm x 5mm (roughly). It was clearly a bee, not a fly and had pollen packets on her rear legs - but it was tiny!
Basic googling says that tiny bees that look like honeys are "stingless" bees. However, the same googling says that these bees are only in "warmer" climates and suggest Africa and Mexico.
Does anyone have a clue what this might have been? Or has climate change increased the range of these bees into the UK?
TIA, Adam |
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catchercradle Golden Bee

Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 1551 Location: Cambridge, UK
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:05 am Post subject: |
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We have over 200 species of solitary bee in the UK. With a few exceptions the only ways of identifying them for certain are dna testing (don't know if database is complete on this) or using a key and doing some microscopy. Getting it down to genus is not too difficult but the exact species can take a lot longer. The size probably helps narrow it down a bit. Just been looking and not finding a key on-line. (Doesn't mean there isn't one, just that if there is it needs better searching techniques or more time than I have given it. |
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AdamBees New Bee
Joined: 20 Jun 2017 Posts: 2 Location: St Albans, Hertz
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Ah - solitary bees...
Found this:
http: //www .wildlifetrusts. org/reserves-wildlife/guide-solitary-bees-britain
Interesting.
This was a one time occurrence. I've never seen such a tiny bee before or since. Sadly we get mostly bumbles around the neighborhood. Honeys are rare.
I don't keep, tho' I've taken a basic course, due to time and the lack of space in the neighborhood. My garden is but 16' x 20', so no real place to put a hive. |
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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Don't be sad about having bumble bees.... any and all bees are a good thing.
Also don't be put off by the size of your garden. I currently have 9 colonies within 15 feet of my back door.... OK I do have a much larger garden but chose to keep them close to the house so that I can see them and check on their progress every time I open the door..... like now when I am on swarm watch.... as I have a hive ready to swarm, almost certainly today. Many people keep bees in small back gardens or yards.
Making habitat for other bees like bumble bees and solitary bees is also a very worthwhile project, if you really don't feel comfortable keeping honey bees on your property. They are all fascinating to watch.
Regards
Barbara |
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AndyC Scout Bee
Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Posts: 304 Location: Uk/Horsham/RH13
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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It often surprises me how different the sizes of apis bees can be.
In my apiary I have one colony that are big and stripey and I mean BIG and in another they are tiny in comparison and almost entirely black.
We have the same up at the club apiary with one colony in particular that even the local inspector commented on how small they were.
Doesn't seem to affect their ability to raise brood and lay down honey though.
Vive la difference.  |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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