Are they using this as a hive, making honey? My grand daughter has something like this on her fence, they have just got a bungalow to rent near us. This looks the same.
No these are not honey bees. They're solitary bees (they don't live in colonies) and they use these holes to built nest chambers in which they put a supply of food and lay an egg. They lay several eggs in each tube, building a wall between each little egg chamber. At some point the eggs hatch and break through the seals.
No, this was one my dad bought and put up on the wall but they are very easy to make yourself and there's loads of inspiration online if you google bug house or bee hotel!
Lovely clear shot - great how you captured the bee as well, and very interesting info. I had my ladybird tower out after last years go wild, and despite baiting it with ladybird food, nothing has visited it at all. :(
@stephanies That's a shame... could be that it's not in the right place. I have a bug hotel that nothing has ever used and I know it's just facing the wrong way. The south and west facing ones are busy, but some face North and nothing ever even looks at them! Maybe just put it somewhere with more sunshine and see if that makes a difference.
No these are not honey bees. They're solitary bees (they don't live in colonies) and they use these holes to built nest chambers in which they put a supply of food and lay an egg. They lay several eggs in each tube, building a wall between each little egg chamber. At some point the eggs hatch and break through the seals.
https://www.growwilduk.com/content/everything-you-need-know-about-solitary-bees
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves-wildlife/guide-solitary-bees-britain