Insect ident please

[Mick F]

We have a two inch hole in a bank outside the bedroom window and lots of small flying insects are going in and out.

They are small, the size of a small fly. They are yellow and black like a wasp ............ but small.
Maybe 5 or 7mm long front to back maybe.
Look a bit like a wasp, but way way too small.
Bodies are more rounded like a bee, and not elongated like a wasp.
They don't seem threatening and we're not bothered by them.
Moving too quickly to photograph adequately, but I keep trying with my phone holding down the button to take fast multiple shots. Not managed it yet as they seem to blend in with the dried grass.

Too small and quick to follow them to see what they're doing and where they're going.

Not much to go on, sorry.
Any ideas?

Off out riding shortly, but I'll be back to this later this afternoon.

[iandriver]

Any of these look familiar http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk ... -and-wasps

[PDQ Mobile]

Could be one of the smaller bumble bees.
They are mostly ground nesters.

Be glad they are getting rarer.

[661-Pete]

Be glad they are getting rarer.

[Cyril Haearn]

Could you photograph and post some insects, or rather images of them?

[iandriver]

Just seen something similar in my garden. This one is a hoverfly.

[Cunobelin]

You have bee.....n warned

[thirdcrank]

Check they aren't drones. (They are often used for surveillance these days - more discreet than helicopters.)

[Vorpal]

They might be flies instead of bees. Some flies mimic the look of bees. http://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening ... rden-bugs/

Bees are more likely to be ground nesting, though.

[Grarea]

They might be flies instead of bees. Some flies mimic the look of bees. http://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening ... rden-bugs/

Bees are more likely to be ground nesting, though.

Similar to what I was thinking.
Hoverflies?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverfly

[Mick F]

Back home now.
30odd miles ridden, then a few beers in the boozer. Grief it was hot out there! 30degC or thereabouts.
Home and showered, and had a shufti at the hole in the bank, and they're still going in and out.

Looked at the links. Thanks for the suggestions etc, but I'm not convinced by any of them as yet though not saying they are wrong.
Really need to capture one somehow in a net or something, and then spray it with fly-killer so it dies and stays still so I can see it and photograph it.

Small fly but yellow and stripy and fast.
I mean small so it's not easy to identify.

[al_yrpal]

Sound like Mason Bees which live in holes. Lots of varieties of Mason Bees. Google them…

Alan

[PDQ Mobile]

Be glad they are getting rarer.

I fear I missed the rather important comma'

Be glad, they are getting rarer.

Though I guess interpretation still depends on how much you like bees!!
I keep them, but they are not exactly pets.

[Mick F]

Caught one!
Sprayed with fly spray and now dead.

On the kitchen table with a ruler to show his? size.
Little bit of grass on left wing.

[Mick F]

Couple more shots.