Solitary bees hatching

Susie · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 05:57 PM

I had a great time watching the solitary bees escaping from their mud cells in the bee box today (and from the holes in the garden hose reel). If anyone hasn't got a bee box I would heartily recommend you get one, they're great.

squishy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 05:58 PM

i have one, but i've not seen much in it

eucera · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 06:42 PM

A fair few male Red Mason-bees in my garden today. Lovely to see them again

nutmeg · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 06:46 PM

I've seen a few male red mason bees too - and I agree, it's lovely to see them again.

tameblackbirds · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squishy

i have one, but i've not seen much in it

me neither

woodlouse love it slowly chomping through it

parvenu · #6 (**permalink**) 21-04-2009, 01:23 PM

Hi:
Hope someone can help?
I put up a large solitary bee nesting site last year and LOADS are now emerging. Good news!
They are swarming all around the nest every day in the sunshine.
However, I was wondering what is the time lapse between the new bees emerging and females wanting to lay new eggs. I want to clean out the used straws, obviously, but don't want to disturb any new grubs which might have been laid.
Any ideas anyone please?

eucera · #7 (**permalink**) 21-04-2009, 06:56 PM

Females are out now... its madness around the bee hotel today. The few females that are active are already collecting pollen and provisioning brood cells.

I tend to leave my tubes, and replace a certain number each year. Not all the used ones will be re-used. These can then be safely discarded. I certainly wouldn't try cleaning existing tubes - you never know if all the bees have emerged.

parvenu · #8 (**permalink**) 22-04-2009, 08:45 AM

Many thanks Eucera:
In that case, I won't clean out the tubes.
We seem to have SO many bees that I may even contemplate putting up another box. Is it worth buying the tubes for the blue mason bee - I wouldn't know if we have any here of not?
Di

Susie · #9 (**permalink**) 22-04-2009, 07:41 PM

I have always wondered what to do about blocked cells too. There are cells in one of my bee boxes which are blocked from the leaf cutter bees back in 2006. Others are blocked from last year and the year before, but these weren't leafcutters but mason bees. I can see tiny holes in the clay so I assume the inhabitants were attacked by parasites.

I have three bee boxes now and the bees still insist on using the garden hose reel, the air vents in the back of the house and any other nook or cranny they can find. They're a joy, bless 'em. Next year I'll treat myself to another bee box.

Susie · #10 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 09:08 AM

This morning I have been watching two red mason bee females cleaning out the tubes which were blocked from the leaf cutter bees a couple of years ago. Which answers one of my queries.

I could hear a "scratch scratch scratch" coming from the tubes and on investigating she pushed a load of old leaf debris out!

She and another have been doing this for the last half hour or so. I wonder if they will claim on expenses for renovating their accommodation.