Many aboriginal nonsocial bee are found throughout North America , and together with other bee metal money such as honeybees and bumblebees , they are important pollinator of yield and vegetable .
When the daytime high temperature reaches 14 C ( 57 ° F ) , the Blue Orchard bee pop out to emerge . The males emerge a few day before the female . They mate and then the distaff look for position to repose her eggs . She prefers to lay her eggs in diminished holes , often in tree trunk or fences . When she has ground a suitable nest , she collects many grains of pollen , mixes it with ambrosia , and lays an egg on the clod of pollen . Then she call for wet mud or other materials and makes a wall as protection from parasites and predator . After one cell is closed with mud , she sets out to collect pollen and nectar for another mobile phone , and she continues until she runs out of eggs .
you could attract Blue OrchardMason Beesinto your garden by build your own “ Condo ” for them . It ’s easy and can be made with recycled materials to boot .
Materials needed:
Prepare the Condo as follows:
Screw a one liter rise milk or juice container to the outside of your garage , shed , or house wall , in a sheltered spot out of the wind . These nest should be target in a sunny , southerly or eastern location near your garden so that the bees can pollenate your yield Tree . The stature is not that important , the bees seem to cuddle in pale yellow anywhere from three to 20′ above ground , but put it at heart level so you’re able to look out the bees in activity
switch off the straws approximately in one-half ( some slightly less than 6″ and some slimly more than 6″ ) and bundle the straws together with an elastic band . Note that the uneven length of nesting stalk is a pool cue for bees to orient to their nest .
skip five x 6″ squares of paper and glue them around the bundle for the first layer of detachment . target another rubber band over the newspaper to keep it snug . Wrap the package with foam to insulate the bees from extreme cold and passion . enclose the bundle of straw and insularity , as one building block , into the waterproof container . If there is excess elbow room around the straws , fill it with more froth .
Each female solitary bee will use about two and a half of the six - inch straws per time of year . To increase the chance of bees finding your homemade condo , you could decorate your nest with pale - colored paint . In addition , you could color the end of a few of the nesting straw to make participating nesting straw easier to site for revert bees .
pull up stakes the nests outside all class in mild winter area ( Zones 7 and above ) . You could move them to a more sheltered billet out of the worst of the rain and snow and move them back to your idealistic bit in mid - February . Each yr , provide more empty straws for new nests .
Questions about Orchard Mason Bees and making condominium can be sent to Derryat wchase@interchange.ubc.ca
