By Marjoriemay
United Kingdom 
last year I am fairly certain that we had leaf cutter bees in our garden. The made holes in the soil and were quite good to watch. Only thing is that we saw them taking dead flies down the holes, plus we had the holes on our rose leaves. From what I have managed to learn about them none of the articles mentioned dead flies. Is it possible that it was something else?
2 Jun, 2011
Answers
They're great the way they carry the piece of leaf like a rolled up carpet between their legs. :-) I've watched them too, but like Julien, not seen them with dead flies. Perhaps you had leaf-cutter bees plus these ones that could be a different sort, carrying dead flies around.
2 Jun, 2011
Dead flies sound more like some kind of wasp, Marjorie. Bees eatpollen and nectar, while wasps eat meat.
3 Jun, 2011
Took the words right out of my mouth, Tugbrethil - more likely a variety of wasp, they like flies and bees to eat...
3 Jun, 2011
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Possibly it was but not sure about them being in the ground, i had leaf cutter bees in the garden last year, or should i say bee, i think they are solitary bees, i watched the bee cutting holes in the rose leafs, and managed to find where it was going, to an old tree stump, it was taking the cut leaves down into the stump, i think what they do is lay eggs/egg and then seal the chamber up up with cut leaves, not sure if this is exactly correct but it is along these lines, julien.
2 Jun, 2011