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At our
wildlife habitat garden, we’re experimenting
with different types of nesting blocks for solitary bees. Based on one season
of observation in 2004, the wooden block without straw-lined holes was most often used
by nesting bees. As we learn more about the nesting requirements of solitary
bees, we will modify our boxes accordingly.
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Basic Bee Boxes
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Constructed at Elk Ridge NatureWorks based on guidelines from
The
Xerces Society and USDA Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory
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Design #1
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Thirty-six one diameter size holes (5/16”);
discontinued.
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Design #2
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This new
design features a range of hole-sizes (1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and
5/16”)
on one block, which should attract a variety of solitary bee
species.
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Short model (40 holes
or less);
cost is $13.95, plus appropriate State sales tax.
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Tall
model (48 holes or more); cost is $15.95, plus
appropriate State sales tax.
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Installing Your Bee Box
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Position
the bee block so that it faces the morning sun (east to southeast)
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Place the bee block on a
stable surface anywhere from 2 to 6 feet above the ground
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Maintenance Guidelines for Bee Safety
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Destroy
or re-drill the bee block every three or four years to limit bee parasites and
disease.
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Check
that all bees have emerged from their nests by placing the block in a box that
has a single exit hole (1/2 inch in diameter). Emerging bees will exit hole and
not return, if the box is left in a shady spot. When all of the seals are
broken, the bees have emerged.
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Remove
and destroy the old block, or clean it with mild bleach solution and re-drill
the holes.
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Things You Know About Solitary Bees
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Solitary bees don’t
form hives and are one of the critical pollinators in our ecosystems. |
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There are more than
4,000 species of these non-aggressive insects in North America. |
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The lack of
appropriate nesting sites is the key limiting factor on populations of
solitary bees. |
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What you
can do to help:
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Include a
diversity of native plants in your garden that bloom throughout the growing
season. |
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Provide some
nesting blocks and patches of bare ground for solitary bees to use for
nesting. |
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Keep your
landscape free of poisonous chemicals. |
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