Noticed that some bees climb in at the bottom of my planters and dig themselves in. They go in and out multiple times a day, sometimes seem to carry some cut leaves. It seems like its the same bee, never seen more than one at the same spot, but multiple planters have these bees and holes.
What are they doing? Could they mean harm to my plants? Should I worry about my cat trying to catch them, and they stinging?
I also change the soil and the plant every year. Will I ruin their homes this way?
Sounds like solitary bees. They can have the ability to sting, but since they aren’t a social bee, there’s no real reason to, so it’s very rare to get stung by one. Some types burrow in wood, others in dirt. I would just leave them be. Worst case scenario, they make a tiny mess by pulling dirt out of the pot. There’s a huge variety of them, so it’s hard to say for sure about your bees, but changing the soil will likely destroy their home, but it’s not like a full on beehive, so it’s easy enough to remake a new hive. Only thing to keep in mind is that they might overwinter in there, so repotting during winter could destroy them.