What the heck is in my yard?

Over the past week every night there is a large swarm of bee like little bugs that have taken up residence in one of my Fairy Dusters. The fly around and clump on some of the branches. They are really not doing anything except freaking the wife out thinking they will attack her. Yeah she watches too many horror movies. The plant has no aphids or other bugs that would attract a predator species. During the day they are off doing other things, then at dusk they start to swarm on the same two branches of the Fairy Duster. They lump up and kind of wiggle around a bit, but that is it. They have black abdominal with horizontal white stripes. One minute I would say that their wings were fly like, but then they shift and they look like bee wings. There are two straight antennae coming off the head and I have not been able to get a good look at their faces. But I am betting they have very large eyes for their size) like a fly. These guys are pretty docile. I walked right up and put my hand within a couple inches and they paid no attention to me. Any ideas. I'm in Tucson if that helps.

Can you get a pic of them?

Yeah, I knew that I should have when originally posting. I will get a picture of the little guys and put it up for all to see.

It sounds like a digger bee or long tongue bee maybe...

This document may help:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5306468.pdf

Here are my little vagabonds. They are using one of my Fairy Dusters as a motel. Sometimes they spend the night there, sometimes they don't.

Wow - Joe! I don't know what they are (other than they do look like some sort of bee) but that is a GREAT picture.

Parosela Long-horned Bee (Melissodes paroselae)

I googled that name and sure enough there they were! Cool beans! Now I know something about my garden squatters. Apparently they are stingless and very important pollinators (like all bees). They can stay as long as they want.

First of all, I want to say I have long horned bee envy now.

Secondly, will you provide them with tiny amenities, like towels and soaps, in their new motel?

No, but thaey have been asking for free HBO.

Joe Portale wrote:No, but thaey have been asking for free HBO.

and wifi, so they can post on permies!

H "bee" O??

Wifi so they can spread the buzz....

(stop me!!!)

Jennifer Wadsworth wrote:H "bee" O??

Wifi so they can spread the buzz....

(stop me!!!)

Bam! Bam! [on the door]

"Bee Police! "

" You are using too many puns without enough dancing. You are required by bee law to do more dancing before you can share more honey."

Oh come on folks....bee real will ya?