Are Solitry Bees A Protected Species?

[cassa333]

Are you allowed to kill them?

They have made their home in the mortar under the paving on the path and I want to know if they are protected or if I can kill them?

Thank you

[catswhiskas]

How mean, we need bees, rather selfish of you.

[jakep]

Please do not kill bees. The only thing I will kill are bluebottles.

[Mamyalynne]

Beekeepers may give advice is what I said - or meant to.

[melv16]

The only bee I've killed is the one I trod on in stocking feet.....yowza:-(

[EcclesCake]

Unfortunately I've killed many, but it is inevitable.......you try telling Boris, Brian, Barry, Bart and their pals to get out of the way when you are replacing the frames in the hive ;-)

[ladybirder]

Here's a a link to the Bee Keepers Association here.
http://www.bbka.org.uk/help/find_a_swarm_coordinator.php

[237SJ]

I don`t think they are protected but it says here that insectisides are not effective. http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Environment%20and%20Waste/Pest-Control/Bees-and-Wasps/Mason-Bees.aspx

[237SJ]

*insecticide*

[Baldric]

/// Some females may also be able to excavate burrows in intact, but soft mortar///

https://www.marshallsgroup.com/mortar%20bees.aspx

[pastafreak]

And by what means do you intend to kill them?
I'd do as others have said,and wait a bit ( actually,it would never enter my head to kill bees ). Let them enjoy spring at least!

[ladybirder]

Follow my link @15.10 and put your post code in and get a swarm collector to come and collect them.
Please don't kill them. We are desperately short of bees in this country and we need them.

[EcclesCake]

Lady order, they are NOT honeybees. A swarm collector is not going to collect them.

[EcclesCake]

Sorry, for dodgy spell checker correction Ladybirder.

[237SJ]

ladybirder - they are solitary bees.

[Clanad]

Firstly, speaking from experience as a beekeeper here in the U.S., the bees you are observing are not honey bees. Secondly, if the bees you see are Colletes inaequalis[i the Queen is a solitary nester... meaning they don't have a swarm as do honey bees. There may be several nearby but each is a nesting bee unto itself.

The [i]inaequalis] is harmless... rarely will they sting (usually only if handled agrssively). It's probable the bee(s) you see going under the pavement are doing so from the edges. I've not witnessed them attempting to burrow into mortar as you describe... but that's not to say there aren't differences between your bees and ours.

As someone else on this thread has already stated, leave them alone and they will soon depart the area to make yet another nest somewhere else...

[Old_Geezer]

They are all solitary when I see them on my garden flowers :-)

[douglas9401]

Mason bees can be dealt with through your local lodge.

Knock three times and give the handshake when prompted.

[mightymouse]

When you say solitary bees, do you mean the leaf-cutters? Totally harmless, except to some leaves! Now.......hornets are something else.....but will rarely attack..........just keep away from a nest!

[tamborine]

Seems to be a queen nesting. Place a jamjar over at night to see what shows in the morning. Slip a card under jar if any bees are trapped & release them elsewhere. Fill in nest.

you dont need a swarm disturbing you late summer.

[chaptazbru2]

You can replace your mortar, but you can't replace bees who we need. Why is it always kill, kill, kill ???