| It is not commonly known but the fact is that most | | | | Unlike the bumblebee, solitary bees usually specialise in |
| bees are not into communal living. With a flying lifespan | | | | feeding on plant type only which is unfortunate as |
| of 6 - 8 weeks prior to this they spent approximately | | | | when the season for that plant dies so does the bee. |
| a year as pupae in a cocoon. | | | | This results in certain types of Solitary bees being |
| All females of this type of species are very fertile and | | | | seen at different times of the year. |
| will lay approximately eight female and one male egg in | | | | If you want to encourage solitary bees to nest in your |
| a small burrow or tunnel. The burrows are normally in | | | | garden, it is quite simply a matter of installing a nesting |
| the ground, soft mortar or in wood such as the hollow | | | | site. These nesting sites are easy to fit and are |
| of trees and reeds. | | | | basically a bundle of thin tubes which can be made |
| The larvae spend nearly 12 months just developing in | | | | from quarter inch bamboo or garden canes. |
| their individual cells emerging in time for spring and as | | | | To install you simply affix the tubes to a wall or fence |
| the food they eat is in abundance. Males emerge first | | | | in a sunny spot. It is a fun and worthwhile activity to do |
| with a mission to mate immediately with any female | | | | I recently fixed a nesting site in a gap in some old |
| bees they find. At this point he dies leaving the female | | | | kitchen ceramic tiles I had used to decorate my porch |
| to look for a new site to nest and continue the life | | | | and can already see pupae forming. |
| cycle. | | | | |