Bee Care and Pro Tips

There is no single, overriding cause of insect declines. Scientists cite many factors in the sharp decline of the world's insect populations and many of these factors interact, causing even greater pressure on vulnerable populations. This blog highlights 5 of the major causes of global insect decline and a few simple actions that individuals can take to save insects from even greater declines in the future.

Looking for something to do with the family this spring? Building your own bee house is a fun, engaging activity that the entire family can enjoy! Check out our new blog post, DIY - How To Make A Solitary Bee House, to learn how to craft a bee house that suits both your budget and design style!

This post will explain a few simple steps to create a bee-friendly habitat that will help local bee populations thrive - applicable to small and large gardens, urban and rural areas, and everywhere in between.

Join the Crown Bees team to learn about the importance of harvesting your mason bee cocoons and how to improve the health of your bees.

Dave Hunter hosts this webinar presentation on how to raise leafcutter bees!

In a study we published earlier this year, we found that feral honey bees (managed honey bees gone wild) are preferentially removing food resources from the plant species that support the highest diversity and abundance of native pollinators.

Backyard bee houses or bee hotels have become so popular that large garden distributors have started selling quickly made nesting habitats. When these products are made from drilled blocks of wood or bamboo tubes, they actually do more harm than good for local hole-nesting bees. These companies' intentions are in the right place but they lack the knowledge of the pests and diseases that can harm bees.

Wild bees and solitary beneficial wasps can both move into your bee house or bee hotel. Each bee and wasp species has its own nesting preferences and its own way of building nests. Here are our tips that can help you understand some of the most popular or common guests.

Learn how to naturally deter social wasps from building a nest near your home. You may begin to notice and worry about social wasp nests in the late summer. Social wasps like paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets have similar life cycles and their nests become large enough to notice in the summer. Social wasps look for a protective overhang like a tree branch or unfortunately, your house's eaves.

Chances are, your bee hotel or bee house will attract a hole-nesting wild bee. We want to help your local bee population thrive - here are our expert tips that can help you understand your bee house guests.