http://www.aussiebee.com.au/leafcutter_bee.html
you end up with lots of cool looking leaves
unless of course itsa tiny plant and losing half the leaves is hurting it.
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| Solitary bee chewing up the roses... http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20122 |
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| Author: | Bodgy [ Jan 3rd, '14, 13:35 ] |
| Post subject: | Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
I've been trying to find the caterpillar that has been eating the leaves on my rose cuttings. Never found it, then while out in the yard I see a little bee land on a leaf and chew a circular piece from it, decide that piece wasn't to it's liking and it proceed to chew off another in seconds. I followed it to a railing where it flew into a gap and disappeared. Seems they use parts of leaves to build their 'nest'? At least I know it wasn't a caterpillar now. The dilemma is now that I like my roses but I also like native solitary bees. Just wish the so-and-so liked any of the other plants in the garden... |
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| Author: | ferozaj [ Jan 3rd, '14, 13:48 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
http://www.aussiebee.com.au/leafcutter_bee.html you end up with lots of cool looking leaves unless of course itsa tiny plant and losing half the leaves is hurting it.
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| Author: | Bodgy [ Jan 3rd, '14, 14:08 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
They aren't very big unfortunately but they are still surviving. Luckily they're growing fast. Gotta say, the Leafcutter Bees are fast workers. A few seconds and they've landed, chewed off and rolled up their booty and departed. I took the cuttings from some damaged root/trunk sections from an old rose tree I'm trying to save/bonsai. The cuttings will return to where the tree was originally. Unfortunately the two future bonsai plants are about a metre from where the bee is 'nesting'. Ahh well, I am trying to give them character I guess...  ps Thanks for the ID too ferozaj 
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| Author: | Bodgy [ Jan 4th, '14, 18:55 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
The hardworking so-and-so in action Phone camera is rubbish but I caught her at it. 
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| Author: | faye [ Jan 4th, '14, 20:45 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
Awesome Bodgy. Lucky you, I haven't managed to view their work in progress sigh! |
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| Author: | werdna [ Jan 5th, '14, 11:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
Wow, that's impressive how quick it cuts the leaf! |
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| Author: | blind freddie [ Jan 6th, '14, 18:43 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
Thanks Bodgy, what an amazing little bug I've often wondered what ate the leaves around our place, I'll keep an eye out for these little guys now.
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| Author: | Bodgy [ Jan 6th, '14, 19:14 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
I'd even gone out at night with a torch to try to catch the culprit. Thought I had the world's sneakiest caterpillar. Never expected it to be a bee. This one was pruning all day long, not thrilled to have it damaging plants but I guess it is a pollinator and I don't mind her doing her thing around the place. Would be nicer if it chose some other plant but apparently they prefer to target roses. If your plants have that shape cut out of them I'm sure it will be these guys (gals...) hard at work. If so I'm sure you'll find them.
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| Author: | Bodgy [ Jan 6th, '14, 19:21 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Solitary bee chewing up the roses... |
I moved a set of stairs a while ago and when I removed some of the railing I found a weird little stack of leaves that I now know was an abandoned nest. Kinda like a stack of waffle cones with a rounded end I guess. About 75mm (3") long and around 12mm (1/2") diameter. At the time I could not for the life of me work out why some critter had made it. |
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