Bumblebee ???

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George Valinda, CA(Zone 10a) Mar 21, 2002

I just saw this bumblebee sized insect hovering around my flowering gooseberry. It resembled a bumblebee but was sort of a tawny lion color. I often have all black bumblebees and occasionally the yellow and black variety. Does anyone have an idea?

Post #25273
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philomel Castelnau RB Pyrenée, France(Zone 8a) Mar 21, 2002

Think this may have been a 'Tawny Mining Bee' Andrena fulva, that's what we have in europe anyway.
Described as "feeds at currant and gooseberry flowers in spring"
The colouring is right too.
If so, they nest in lawns with the soil brought up and left as a mound at the opening.
A very ecoo friendly way to aerate your lawn LOL
(Definitely won't damage your lawn)

Post #229899
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George Valinda, CA(Zone 10a) Mar 21, 2002

Well, I do not have lawn! Just flowers and dirt paths. I looked up Andrena fulva on the web. The photos showed a striped body although in the written descriptions stripes were not mentioned. This one was very furry. Also I am in Southern California and not England.

I have no problem with bees and wasps. I have quite a few wasps that build paper nests and I have never had tomato hornworms. I do see the wasps inspecting the tomato plants so I suspect that they get the worms before I notice them.

Post #230190
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philomel Castelnau RB Pyrenée, France(Zone 8a) Mar 21, 2002

Yes, as you're not in europe it possibly isn't this exact species, but it does sound as if it is this type of bee. Of course i should have said 'often nests in lawns' instead of making it sound as if they nest nowhere else.

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