Size - Up to 20mm overall body length. 2 pairs of wings

Markings - Variously marked, with characteristic bee like features common, but not universal

Location - A wide range of man made and natural structures from soffit to sand dune

Detection - Visual sightings of adults. Holes in materials and ground

There are a number of solitary types of wild bee species, including Mining Bees, Mortar or Masonry Bees and Carpenter Bees, they do not sting and are completely harmless. Their habitat can be as diverse as earth banks, soft eroded rocks, brickwork, soft or poor quality mortar and dry soft timber. They are all solitary types in as much as they do not form swarms or colonies, although many individual bees will often attack the same area if it provides particularly suitable conditions.

Pollen is carried back to the nest attached to the broad and hairy hind legs. Some species carry their pollen on the underside of the body, others in the crop. Only the females are equipped for carrying pollen. All species feed off pollen and nectar, but the range of plants they favour is enormous; hawthorn, sallow, bryony, bramble, blackthorn, speedwell and dandelions form just a part of the huge number of species that the solitary bees use as a food source.

The females bore into the material to form a system of tunnels in which to house the pupal cells of the next generation. This takes place during the early spring. Only a single brood generation is raised each year so, although the bees may be evident during the summer because of more frequent flights, the building fabric will not suffer further damage until the following spring.

Treatment

As the bees' boring activities are limited to comparatively weak materials the most effective method of preventing further damage is the repointing of the walls in which the mortar joints are being attacked. This should be done during late summer or autumn after all activity ceases.

The use of insecticide spray treatments are unlikely to achieve any lasting effect alone.