Wasps

I must admit, much as i like insects, I do squash lily beetles when they attack the snakes head fritillaries...
Wasps I agree - they eat caterpillars at this time of year. They tend to build large, vase-like, "paper" - i.e. chewed wood - nests in sheltered places. Fine structures but would not want one too near the house.Other similar insects are hornets (giant wasps) and hover flies (tiny hovering stripey jobbies - they also are great at controlling pests). Hover flies and all the small bee like things that are around the forgetmenots etc are very much a good thing in the garden

So radar wasn't discovered by 'man' then

I expect you know all about greenfly too.......

They seem to be able to seek out lilies by radar....!

Heavens Anagram how have these beetles found my 2 lilies in this isolate spot? They are a lovely red and I haven't had the heart to touch them.

Those are definitely lily beetles! The bane of lily-growers' lives!

Thank you Anagram and Bags I am going to view them differently now. I shall wear the keep insects away cream and leave them be. Do they have a different buzz to distinquish them?

I found a ladybird in the bathroom early spring and had thought it lovely to have more around but now I have just the red wooden applique on the house! I do have some other red, without spots, insects eating my lilies.

Wasps are very useful beasts. They eat other insects.

They're probably masonry bees (not all bees are round!). Have a Google and find a photo.

Mosts wasps are predators and are good pest controllers.

Goodness nanaej thanks didn't know that. Well the 'house' is away from the house but not sure I want to breed them. It is a tiny courtyard and if I sit out with any food or drink they seem to be there.

Well Anagram (gran)? I will need an expert. They look small and slim and I thought bees were sort of round?

Wasps are pollinators.

Are you sure they're wasps, fieldwake? We have bees going in and out of holes in the brickwork every year.