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Bees & Beekeeping

Do solitary bees eat other insects?

15 years ago

Hi! Today I noticed a small hole in my lawn that had what looked like a shiny dead red winged ant laying on top of it. I pushed the dead insect out of the way and immediately, a bee stuck its head out of the ground and dragged the ant down into the hole. I then watched the bee push dirt out of the hole, as it worked on its tunnel. The bee didn't sting me or even fly out of the hole and I only saw that one bee. I know there are solitary bees that nest in the ground. I also know that yellow jackets can nest in the ground. But I didn't get a good look at this bee and don't know which this might be. I'd hate to destroy a harmless bee, but can't leave yellow jackets in my lawn! Do solitary bees eat other insects? Or is the fact that it dragged a dead insect into the nest proof of a yellow jacket colony? Any help would be much appreciated.

Comments (7)

tonybeeguy
15 years ago
I've seen wasps crawl down into my cabbage plants and come out with cabbage worms, which they devour as I watch. I'm not sure if that particular wasp is a solitary bee or not.
red htc
6 years ago
i just saw something similar today. A bee flew in a whole in the brick wall. I thought it was in the mortar. but then i tapped on it with the tip of my car key. it was mud and it fell apart. the bee flew away. i dug deeper... guess what! inside I found at least 3 dead spiders!!! and two green circular seeds.
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Honey bees will cover every single flower on holly, making it seem alive with the hard working insects. You can hear them before you see them. YJs aren't so noisy. You should be able to easily tell a honey bee from a yellow jacket by the lack of very bright yellow and black on the bee body and that fact that bees are fuzzier. Both of these insects and many more are nectar and pollen feeders and will be found on holly, which is very attractive to all manner of pollinators, but only honeybees gather and collect nectar and pollen in order to bring back to their hives, for storage and the feeding of larvae. The relationship between bees and hollies is legendary. I would certainly hope that they are allowed to continue their work unmolested. No need to be afraid. Yes, they mind their own business, lol!
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Sedonia Sipes
6 years ago
Solitary bees do not eat insects. Both larvae and adults consume only floral resources.
HU-421456223
2 years ago
i saw a black bee eating an insect yesterday . a big bee with a white fluffy jacket looking detail to it . i took a couple good images of it . i have not seen an image of the type , yet . date today is May 18, 2021 . Lockport , Illinois .
HU-663889170
2 years ago
I took a video of a be eating what I’m sure was the last of an insect 5 mins ago, looked like bumble or carpenter but I’m far from educated about them. Simply amazing though. I started recording b/c it through its middle leg up like it was waving at me,....I expect it meant “don’t mess w/me...I’m eating #sshole”
Sedonia Sipes
2 years ago
Again, bees do not eat other insects. There are robber flies and other insects that mimic bees, sometimes very convincingly.
HU-378136386
2 years ago
I just took this pic today I live in Moyock, NC and my yard has lots of flowers and fruit trees. This one landed on a small trallis and i saw it land there holding the bug. it looks like a normal honey bee with slight differences i think. Can it be an African killer bee?

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