That's them! Thanks Burbage. I will indeed leave them bee :) Burbage Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > jamesb Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Difficult to tell. Looks like mine have a > black > > head/fore-body, an orange mid/lower body, and a > > white (tipped) tail. Can't easily identify > them > > online, nor get a decent pic. I'll > persevere... > > > > Here: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boomhommel_op_pr > ei_Bombus_hypnorum.jpg > > They're Tree Bumblebees. They're one of our newer > species (a happy addition or a noxious invader, > according to your taste in ecological delusions), > and have been turning up in London for the last > five years or so. The year before last there was > an active colony of them in the big oak nearest > the boating hut in Dulwich Park. But it's not > there now, so won't be much help.