Solitary Bees

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These are very efficient and industrious Pollinators.
There are many species.  
 

1- A Solitary Bee covered with yellow grains of Pollen is about to enter the man-made hole to tend its young. They will occupy any hole that is the right dimensions, like an electrical receptacle or a piece of copper tubing. 

2- This Solitary Bee is getting Nectar from a Cone flower.

3- A Bumble Bee on a Tomato Blossom, carrying Pollen on its leg. 

4- Rear view of  a Solitary Bee.

5- is a Honey Bee, similar to those that are kept in Hives for Honey.

6- Here a Solitary Mother Bee is sealing her babies in their nursery with bits of leaves to protect them from predators and weather. They will stay there until next Spring when they chew their way out.

7- One of the GardenGrapevine.com experimental Solitary Bee Houses with various sized holes, orientations and hanging heights to determine which is most attractive to Solitary Bees searching for a home. In searching, they seem to "Buzz" a hole to determine by the echo, if a hole is suitable, before actually landing and going into the hole.  Buy one HERE

If you have ever watched a Honey Bee or Bumble Bee, you probably noticed that they spend a lot of time flying around, relative to the time they actually spend collecting Pollen and Nectar. If you study Solitary Bees, you will find them to be more efficient. They spend much more time on the job.

They are not social like Bees and Wasps where individuals contribute to building nests and tending brood. Neither are they as aggressive and inclined to sting. Each Solitary Mother prepares a nest and tends her Larvae by herself.

Since the wild Honey Bees have been declining due to disease and predation, their actual value as Nature's Pollinators has diminished markedly. Unless you have a Hive nearby, you may want to attract the more efficient Solitary Bees to your Garden to improve your harvest.

Unlike Honey Bees, Solitary Bees do not require any supervision, feeding, or medication from a Beekeeper. All they need is a protected hole to raise their young. But neither do they make Honey.
 

Any piece of wood that can have a 5/16" diameter hole drilled 5 inches deep and positioned with the hole horizontal will attract Solitary Bees.  Fasten the House under a protected roof or shelter from 3 to 6 feet above the ground. Do NOT use Pressure-treated Wood !      We sell Solitary Bee Houses HERE