Rob Parker of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society sent me [Adrian Knowles] the following anecdote regarding an Osmia bicolor nest which he had previously observed being covered by pine needles as part of their "tent making" behaviour:

"I returned to the King's Forest on this morning's Dingy Skipper search, and found my O. bicolor nest had grown substantially since my last visit 11 days ago. We carefully lifted the pagoda of pine needles off, and found the snail shell had a large pine kernel over the top of it, so that it was quite… Read more

1. Bombus pratorum worker flying in December 2006

From the BWARS Forum: Steve Farmer Sunday 17 December 2006

This morning (Sunday 17 December 2006) we visited the Valley Gardens at Windsor Great Park. There we saw 5 Bombus Pratorum workers simultaneously collecting pollen and nectar from Rhododendron flowers. The bumblebees were very easy to observe as the Rhododendron pachysanthum was on the edge of the path. The workers had one yellow band on the thorax but the band on the abdomen was virtually absent. Each… Read more

Withymead Nature Reserve, Oxfordshire

Introductory Course from The Anne Carpmael Charitable Trust. Led by Ivan Wright
Morning session classroom based.
Afternoon field session out on the Reserve.

Tea, coffee, biscuits provided (bring own packed lunch please).

Cost: £25 each course – lmited to 8 places per course

BOOKING ESSENTIAL – contact Withymead Nature Reserve, Bridleway, Goring RG8 0HS; Tel: 01491 872265 / 07553 112447;
email: info@withymead.co.uk to book or for more details.

1. The following observation was posted on the BWARS Forum by Keith Balmer:

Today I twice observed Mellinus arvensis females dangling their diptera prey over the edge of oak leaves for several minutes at a time, apparently suspended by their tongues(?), then flying with the fly slung beneath them supported by their legs to another leaf only to repeat the dangling process. Eventually they flew off with the flies, presumably to their burrows.

Can anyone tell me what this dangling business is about please? The flies seemed immobilised… Read more

From: Edie Jolley, PIE, Rothamsted, June 2007

11 June 2007 – Market Rasen, Lincolnshire

Whilst carrying out fieldwork in SRC willow on 11th June 2007, I saw two species of bumblebee workers (Bombus terrestris/lucorum and B. lapidarius) which were apparently feeding on honeydew residues on the willow crop. The willows were host to willow aphids (Tuberolachnus salignus?) and the honeydew they produced had collected on the branches and near the ground and become blackened (possibly with fungus). Bumblebees were observed ‘searching’ the ground around… Read more