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.

In article ,
says...
I doesn's seem to match the digger bee picture in the link provided by
sed5555 ... shiny green non-spotted thorax, head hard to tell but looks
greenish, does have yellow segment.


Here's a pretty good look at some.

http://www.pollinator.com/gallery/digger_bees.htm
--

http://home.comcast.net/~larflu/bludf2.jpg

Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

Thank you for a reasonable suggestion, but these bees are swarming around the
nest area and it wouldn't be possible to capture one. I realize the
identification I gave is vague; I guess I'm just looking to narrow down the
possibilities so I can do some more online research. I've tried searching for
"ground-nesting social bees" and the like, and have had lots of hits but no
real means of identification. (And it may not matter.....!)

By the way, I'm in the northeastern USA, if that helps with anything.

Thanks again,
Carol

Can you describe it in more detail. coloration,flight,size,etc?