Bee ID

[Southern Gardener]

These little bees love, love, love my sweet basil and I was wondering what kind of bees they are. I can't get a picture of them, but they are smaller than honey bees, and are black with what looks to be two white spots one each side. I've tried to find it on the internet, but all I come up with is the digger bee (Holcopasites calliopsidis) and that's not it. Anyone have a clue?

 

[4grandbabies]

It would not be some type of little hornet would it?

 

[wifezilla]

I know what you mean about not being able to get pictures. There are bees on my thyme that are so small i thought they were flies or big gnats! Then I looked really close and noticed they were black with silver stripes.

 

[Southern Gardener]

No, they don't look like hornets, just a little black bumble bees. At first I thought they had white stripes, but I think that is the pollen on their legs. I can't get a picture, not because they are so small, but because they buzz around so fast from flower to flower! :bee

 

[gettinaclue]

Could they be mason bees?