Check it out - two capped nests of solitary leaf-cutter bees! Leaf-cutters bees are in a big group called Megachile with about 1,500 species who have all kinds of different tactics. These ones are in lovely, wildlife-friendly garden near Derby. I remember seeing some strangely patterned leaves in my garden a couple of years back but never got to the bottom of it, till now...
This species cuts out two different shapes, ovals used to make the sides of the nest chamber, and perfect circles used to cap the cells, each nest 'hole' containing several cells, with one egg in each.
Ok, so they'll make funky shapes in a few of your rose leaves, but the roses cope fine. So I'm off to make me an insect hotel!
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