Cotton Bees?

TonyBOD · June 04, 2007, 11:59:07 PM

I've finally been able to identify some bees that I've seen in my garden alongside my honey bees - it appears that the other bee is known as a cotton bee (Anthidium oblongatum). Evidently these are European bees that are new to the U.S. - the first recorded sighting was in 1995 in PA. They are a bit smaller than my italians and have much more pronounced yellow stripes. I noticed that these bees would chase away any of my bees if they got too close, but otherwise didn't seem overly agressive.

Anyone know anything about these bees? Are they solitary or social bees? Do they pose any sort of threat to my hive?

bugguide.net/node/view/33252

MrILoveTheAnts · June 05, 2007, 12:05:37 AM

http://www.wildbienen.de/wbs_st07.jpg
They are similar to other bees people keep in tubes. They're a solitary bee but one female will fill up a tube with eggs, pollen, and either mud or cut up leaves to seal each chamber. The ones going after your bees are likely males that hover around and mate with females. If they're annoying you feel free to kill them. I'm not a supporter of nonnative bees and we do have plenty of similar species here.

TonyBOD · June 05, 2007, 12:54:53 AM

They're not really annoying, I just don't know what type of threat they pose (looks like not much). I knew they weren't honey bees, but looked all over trying to find out what they were and then didn't learn much about them.

Understudy · June 05, 2007, 12:55:40 AM

I saw one today on my sunflowers. I had no idea what it was. That picture matches it exactly. The underside is one solid color. I find this a very strange coincedence. que twilight zone music.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

MrILoveTheAnts · June 05, 2007, 01:00:03 AM

I suppose they are welcome then, but I caution that solitary bees can become a menace if they have room to expand. What starts as a small community of them can quickly take over a wooden fence, dead tree, or your yard. I know people with the 3 inch long Cicada Hunters living all over their yard. http://bugguide.net/images/raw/YRSQDRSQ3RXQCR7QCR90CRMQJRXQL0E0Q080AR3K9RYK1R4000IQFRW0JQX0ARX0BR70R0KQH0.jpg
And finding vast communities of solitary ground bees isn't hard to come by in the woods.

Understudy · June 05, 2007, 01:05:37 AM

I have a population control method preformed by another invasive species. I call reglarius buffo toadis. It means the population of everything in my year is stricly controlled by the Buffo Toads. Which are are nasty invasive species that have already taken over my yard.

Sincerley,
Brendhan

wtiger · June 05, 2007, 03:40:03 AM

Quote from: MrILoveTheAnts on June 05, 2007, 12:05:37 AM
http://www.wildbienen.de/wbs_st07.jpg
They are similar to other bees people keep in tubes. They're a solitary bee but one female will fill up a tube with eggs, pollen, and either mud or cut up leaves to seal each chamber. The ones going after your bees are likely males that hover around and mate with females. If they're annoying you feel free to kill them. I'm not a supporter of nonnative bees and we do have plenty of similar species here.

Um aren't honeybees a non-native species to the US? :-P

Michael Bush · June 05, 2007, 07:18:38 AM

I have cicada killers all over my yard. They never bother me.