Weird Bee

[Andy2112]

Saw a bee go into a hole in the soil yesterday, it looked like it had excavated several holes reasonably close together, never seen this before tbh, never seen this type of bee either, it was a very dark orange bordering on red colour with no noticable stripes, quite small as well. Do they nest in the ground ?

Any ideas folks ?

 

[MrEd]

If it was one of these

its a Andrena haemorrhoa or mining bee like bushwhacker said, see my flickr for the large size
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flat4/2462483876/in/set-72157601849190546/

 

[relfy]

There are about 250-300 species of bee in the UK many of which like to live down holes. Here are a couple of sites that show some of them:

http://www.insectpix.net/solitary_bees_gallery.htm
http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/bumblebees_id.htm

 

[Andy2112]

It's a Tawny Mining Bee, thanks all. Good info.

 

[MrEd]

cool glad you worked it out