Of the world's more than 20,000 species of bees, about 90% are solitary, and ~25% of them nest in hollow stems. In North America, that's about 1,000 species of bees!
Solitary bees don't produce honey, so they aren't territorial, making them safe around kids and pets. Plus, we find their antics fascinating to watch.
Wild bees like Mason or Summer Leaf are the ultimate belly floppers onto flowers! They carry the pollen splash on their hairy bodies. Pollen falls off onto each flower they visit. This makes them phenomenal pollen spreaders!
Each species of cavity nesting bee is in flight in your garden for about 5-6 weeks until they die. Eggs they lay this season are next year's busy bees.
Cavity nesting bees need a house, clean nesting holes (reeds), and a yard with blooms.
Be careful! Just like you wouldn't sleep in a hotel that never changed their sheets, bees should have clean, unused reeds to nest inside. Be sure that the bee hotel you're buying has reeds that can be easily removed and opened.
Our Cabana Kit with Bees, featuring varying reed sizes, is our top-selling option. If you're looking to discover the wild bees in your garden, this is an ideal choice.
Discovery
Solitary bees are found across our country from first spring blooms through the fall. Bees come in all sizes - small, medium, and large - so we recommend providing a variety of reed sizes to make them comfortable. Your buzzing guests will appreciate the options.
Simply set up your bee hotel when dandelions begin to bloom, enjoy through the summer, and then store it in the fall.
Spring
Bees that hibernate in cocoons emerge as adults in spring. Mud-using bees tend to be the first to show up when daytime temperatures reach about 55℉ degrees. You can store these cocoons in your refrigerator and release them when your target blossoms are just beginning to appear.
Order our Mason bees to arrive between February - April. For their protection, we ship them free FedEx 2 Day.
Summer
Summer Leaf bees hibernate as larva over the winter and develop into adult bees with the warm temperatures of spring and early summer. At Crown Bees, we take special care of our Summer Leaf bees ensuring that when they arrive to you, they're ready to fly!
Order our Summer Leaf bees to arrive between May - August. For their protection, we ship them free FedEx 2 Day.
Plants
While hybrids and many commercially raised plants from big box stores are beautiful, they lack the pollen or nectar for pollinators. Most bees can gather pollen and nectar from most plants. Some flowers, like blueberries, need long-tongued bees, while others like a daisy are best suited for short-tongued bees!
Plot to plant a bee garden with blooms from spring through fall to keep your bees healthy.
Egg Chamber Door
After a nesting bee lays her egg on the pollen-nectar ball, she will protect her egg within the chamber by creating a "door" of some material.
Our spring Mason bees need moist clay-rich soil found in a nearby ground holes.
Our Summer Leaf bees use small pieces of flexible leaves from your yard, about a leaf per day. Other bees use tree resin, cactus pulp, pebbles, chewed up leaf bits, or some other material to create their protective doors.
Fewer Chemicals
Solitary bees tend to avoid nesting in areas treated with chemicals, like lawn treatments. When ordering bees from us, please avoid spraying chemicals for at least a week before placing the bees out and during their 5 - 6 week life span. If your neighbor routinely sprays, consider sharing this brochure with them.
BeeMail
We share expert tips and timely advice throughout the year in our BeeMail newsletter. Subscribe here.
Our Bee Knowledgeable library is free for everyone. We share multimedia learning material about the fascinating world of solitary cavity-nesting bees, including our mud using Spring Mason and Summer Leaf bees. Videos (some with Chief Pup Sophie!) include "how-to" bee activities, while other photos and videos to help you identify bees and pests. We love to update our library with the latest insights from researchers and field experts.
Help Desk
Looking for help? We're here for you. Quickly find answers our most frequently asked questions in our Bee Knowledgeable library.
If you need a helpful teammate to assist you, you can email us at info@crownbees.com or click on the green leaf in the bottom right side of your screen. We typically respond to questions within a business day.
YouTube
Subscribe to our channel, where we post seasonal how-to videos with practical advice tailored to each season of bee care.
