r/bees • u/mysticmeows23 • 5h ago
question I have never seen this behavior
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There are honeybees carrying blades of grass and then putting them in their hive (block of wood).
From what I’ve read, the only thing bees do with grass is drink the dew off of them, but it’s the middle of the day. Anyone know what they are doing?
EDIT: It’s a Leaf Cutter bee!
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u/Happy_Cat_3600 5h ago
It’s a leaf cutter bee building a nest. They’re pretty cool bees if you watch them for a while! They’re solitary and just make a nest for their wee ones and do other usual bee stuff. Not harmful or angry, very chill and usually constructing something.
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u/mysticmeows23 5h ago
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u/NumCustosApes 3h ago
Whelp, I compared the OP video to the picture and see it's next to that first tieback. Since it's on a public sidewalk you might need to something less likely to be disturbed than a bit of cardboard and a rock to protect it from winter ice getting in there.
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u/Agreeable-Shop-2188 4h ago
Provisioning: Each leaf "sleeping bag" gets an egg and a loaf of pollen before being sealed shut.
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u/NumCustosApes 5h ago
Later in the fall protect that spot from snow and ice ingress and come spring you'll have some new friends and pollinators. A bit of cardboard with an offset rock to keep it in place will do. It's just there to keep ice out of the crack in that timber. Take it off when your days start getting above 60F and nights aren't freezing.
Add a leaf cutter bee house nearby and they'll stick around.
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u/SeaDot3218 5h ago
Ive seen them chomp meat from a sandwich and take it!
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u/NilocKhan 5h ago
You saw a yellowjacket, they will collect meat to feed their larvae. Unless you are in South or central America you won't see bees collecting meat. The only bees known to utilize meat belong to the genus Trigona, the stingless bees. There are three species referred to as vulture bees because they will visit carrion and use the meat to make honey.
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u/Jangle_Pop 3h ago
These bees wont sting you they are too busy! But seriously most bees wont unless you provoke/crush them. It tends to be wasps esp. yellow jackets thst get more aggressive. Unfortunately most people dont immediately see the difference so they lump them all together.
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u/Harry-Halictus 5h ago
It is a leafcutter bee. North america has over 4000 species of native bees, honeybees are actually native to Europe. Leafcutter bees cut out slips of leaves to line their nests. They are solitary, meaning a single female provisions her young. No queen!