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Is this a wasp?

pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 1,574
in Wildlife gardening

Hello, all. I'be had a good morning in the garden today; it's raining now so I had to stop. Can anyone tell me what insect this is? I've also seen a black bee (completely black) and a bit bigger, I thought, than the usual bee... Thank you.

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  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 1,574

    image

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 71,728

    Looks like a wasp to me image  Probably a queen just come out of hibernation - we had one buzzing around  here the other day.  

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 71,728

    Look on here https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/identification/ and see if you can see your bee 

    image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 1,574

    Thanks, Dove. Just thought it was a little chubby for a wasp... image

  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 1,574

    Thank you for the link. I think it might have been a Field cuckoo bumblebee, Bombus campestris. 

  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    Nah, definitely queen wasp.  Even cuckoo bees are hairier than that, although not as hairy as their models. She'll be out looking for a nest site

    H-C

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 71,728

    H-C - the OP had a second query about the ID of a dark coloured bee image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • FairygirlFairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 39,116

    Can't beat a chubby wasp ppatter  image

    Perhaps the angle made it look fatter too - the curve of the petal etc. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....


  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    Ah, the other bee could be one of the solitary ones, one of the mining bees, or, a recent 'invader, xylocopa violacea, which is getting common, from the continent. It's not hairy, and very dark

    H-C

  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 1,574

    Fairygirl: Yes, probably the camera effect. image

    H-C: The black bee was definitely hairy; too bad it was camera shy.

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