A -🐝- Cs of Raising Bees
Solitary cavity-nesting bees have no need to defend hives or honey, making them gentle enough that you can hold them without safety equipment! Solitary bees need little management - just place nesting holes and the bees will find them.
Female Spring Mason bees will build a nest, collect pollen and nectar, then lay eggs without help from other bees, all within 6 weeks in Spring. The eggs laid this year will become next year's adult bees. Summer Leafcutter bees are active from May - September.
Solitary bees are super cross-pollinators! They carry dry, loose pollen on Scopa hairs on the underside of their bellies. The pollen sticks to their bodies like Velcro and is more likely to fall off as they fly from flower to flower, contributing to 2X - 3X the pollination of a honeybee.
Preparing Your Backyard or Patio
Create a welcoming habitat by providing nesting sites and a variety of blooming flowers. Place mixed and varied hole sizes and see what bees might be in your yard. Bees thrive best in nesting holes that can be opened.
Read through our How to Raise Bees resources. We love sharing our knowledge and helping our community of bee raisers be successful!
Invest in our cedar bee houses, designed specifically for solitary cavity-nesting bees. Install them in your garden, patio, or balcony, and watch as these gentle bees make themselves at home.
| Starting Small | Starting Big | |
| Purchase a Cabana Bee House, Spring Natural Reeds, and Bee Mud mix. | OR | Purchase a Complete Kit with Bees, which includes all accessories. |
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