Fall Care for Summer Leaf Bees

When daytime temperatures cool to about 60°F / 15°C, Summer Leaf bees have usually finished nesting for the season.

Because Summer Leaf bees hibernate as delicate larvae inside their leafy cocoons, it’s important to remove and protect the nesting materials so pests like parasitic wasps, ants, birds, and rodents can’t reach them.

IMPORTANT: Summer Leaf bees cannot be stored in the refrigerator like Mason bees. They need natural, unheated temperatures to finish developing. See “Store” below.

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Summer Leaf bee on nesting material

1. Remove

Summer Leaf bees are usually done nesting by late summer or early fall, depending on your local temperatures. Once you no longer see females moving in and out of the house, or daytime temps drop to 60°F / 15°C, it’s time to remove the filled nesting materials.

For reusable wood trays: wait until bee traffic has stopped or temps have dropped, then remove the trays from the house.

For natural reeds: you can remove filled reeds once you see the leaf-capped end, but avoid shifting active nests. Bees use visual cues to find their homes, and moving materials can cause disorientation or nest abandonment.

If you do remove filled tubes, replace them with empty ones in the same order. Evening swaps help females reorient the next morning.

2. Protect

Place filled nesting materials in a BeeGuard Bag or another breathable, translucent bag with the leafy-capped ends facing up. This protects developing bees from predators and keeps larvae properly positioned on their pollen loaf.

Pro tip: If rodents are a problem, place the bag inside a chew-proof plastic or metal container and punch small air holes.

Shop BeeGuard Bag

3. Store

Store filled nesting materials in an unheated, unair-conditioned garage or shed through winter. Summer Leaf bees develop based on temperature, so they need natural seasonal changes—while staying dry and safe from predators.

If you don’t have an indoor space, you can keep them outside as long as they’re sheltered from rain, snow, and direct sun.

Check the BeeGuard Bag regularly for the first few weeks and remove any pests or parasites that may have emerged.

In spring, you’ll want to harvest your Summer Leaf bee cocoons. Harvesting is simple and helps you start next season with healthy bees.

Pro tip: To extend the life of your bee house, uninstall it and store it indoors during fall and winter.