On 20 Aug 2003 01:05:27 GMT, pamnot (CbarRose) opined:


The bees are 1/2 - 3/4 inches in length (they aren't uniform in size), and more
round than slender. The abdomen is dark, the thorax is yellow with some black.
(I know, pretty lousy description!) Several I saw today going into the nest
hole had pollen baskets. The local beekeeper who was called to the location
could only ascertain that they were NOT honeybees (which we knew, of course)
and were bees rather than wasps (which we also knew). Their behavior seems
exactly that of the ground-nesting bumble bees whose description I quoted in a
previous post today, but to me they don't look like bumble bees (not fuzzy
overall, just the thorax).

I'll have to wait until morning to get a better look, now that you've asked the
questions, unless you can make a determination now. (I'm not even sure they'll
still be there, unfortunately.)

Many thanks!
Carol

Not all bumble bees look the same. My guess is they are bumble bees and are
beneficial insects.