"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
While we're on the subject:

When I was clearing hardcore out of the garden yesterday, I pulled a lump
of
concrete out of the ground and there was a little tiny papery nest -
smaller than a tennis ball and several waspy things (about 2cm long)
wibbling around it. Needless to say, they got a spade of earth dumped on
them sharpish.

Where they wasps or something else? Didn't realise wasps lived
underground?...


--
Tim Watts


They live anywhere they can find a reasonably dry cavity. However, at this
time of the year you may notice lots of little 'volcanoes' of excavated soil
or - in our case chalk - on the lawn, and even between the crazy paving
stones of our patio. If you watch, you will see the tawny mining bee -
which as it's name suggests - has a hairy tawny back, going in and out.
There seem to be more than usual this year. They are harmless, and I don't
know where they disappear to the rest of the year.

Nature being what it is, you may also see some small yellow 'wasps' going
into the same holes. These are specialist parasites on the mining bee
grubs, but also harmless to you.

The other thing which you will find 'wibbling' around under the ground at
this time of the year are bumble bee grubs in their nests. Bumble bees are
dying out. Along with the spring flowers their emergence is timed to
coincide with. And if this thread is anything to go by, that can be no
surprise!

http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/

S