white and black bee?!?

[bobber128]

Today, and a few days this past week, while I was out in my garden, watching my girls forage on my lavender bushes, I also noticed several bees that looked a little different. They were black and white, with very distinct stripes. They were fuzzy, just like a honey bee, and about the same size. Any idea what this might be? Kinda curious, and I'm not able to find a good pic online. I took a couple pics, but I left my camera out in my motorcycle, so I'll have to upload them tomorrow. Thanks in advance.

[RayMarler]

Sounds like Carniolan honey bee to me. Here's a pic...

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/i...auf_wabe_1.jpg

or here with a TinyURL...

http://tinyurl.com/29yt6wt

[bobber128]

Might be, the ones I saw were much whiter, though...

[Choodles]

Maybe a bald-faced hornet?

[Joseph Clemens]

They may also have been alkali bees (Nomia melanderi), or a species of leafcutter.

[Oldbee]

"I'm not able to find a good pic online."

Maybe you can find what bee/insect it is here: Bugguide. > http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=sear...&search=Search

[bobber128]

From those pictures, I'm thinking it's a leaf-cutter... looks just like this one:

[Dreyadin]

Don't forget about squash bees, they are also black and white and as well yet another native solitary bee.