Supporting solitary bees is essential for healthy pollination and biodiversity. Unlike social bees, solitary bees nest alone and need specific habitats that you can easily provide in your garden.
Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees
- Leave Bare, Undisturbed Soil: Most solitary bees (about 60-70%) nest in the ground. Clear small areas of lawn or garden from grass, mulch, and dense vegetation to expose bare, sandy, or loamy soil. Avoid using mulch in these areas since even an inch can prevent bees from reaching the soil.[1][2][3]
- Vary the Terrain: Bees prefer open, sunlit patches mixed with small rocks and patches of short grass or low vegetation. Both bare and thatch-covered spots work well.[2][1]
- Minimize Chemicals and Disturbance: Refrain from pesticides, herbicides, and excessive digging where you’ve spotted bee activity.[1]
Cavity-Nesting Solitary Bees
- Provide Bee Hotels (“Bee Houses”):
- Use blocks of untreated wood, bamboo stalks, or bundles of hollow stems like elderberry or reeds. Drill holes with diameters between 2mm and 10mm, 5-6in deep, and smooth rough edges with sandpaper to protect bee wings.[4][5][6][7]
- Ensure the holes have a sealed back (don’t drill all the way through), and the hotel is securely mounted facing south or southeast to catch morning sun at about eye level (~5ft).[5][6][4]
- Place bee hotels close to flowers and a mud-rich clay source, since species such as mason bees use mud for nesting.[4]
- Maintain Bee Hotels:
Natural Materials
- Brush Piles and Dead Stems: Leave some dead plant stems, rotting logs, and brush piles in undisturbed garden areas to attract bees that use pre-existing cavities and tunnels.[2][1]
Extra Tips
- Mud Sources: Many solitary bees need mud or clay to build cells; keep a small area damp or add a dish of mud near nesting sites.[5][4]
- Avoid Permanent Structures: Natural materials are preferred, as permanent structures like bricks can harbor diseases and aren’t easily cleaned.[9]
- Observe and Adjust: Watch which areas bees choose each year and adjust by leaving more undisturbed ground or adding diverse materials.
By providing undisturbed ground, natural plant stems, and simple bee hotels—and minimizing disturbance and chemicals—you’ll make your garden a thriving haven for solitary bees all season long.[3][6][1][2][4][5]
⁂
- https://beelab.umn.edu/create-nesting-habitat
- https://pollinators.psu.edu/landscaping-for-pollinators/nesting-sites
- https://crownbees.com/blogs/news/5-ways-to-create-nesting-habitat-for-solitary-bees
- https://crownbees.com/blogs/news/diy-how-to-make-a-solitary-bee-house
- https://news.vt.edu/articles/2020/03/ext-entomologists-tips-for-installing-and-maintaining-native-bee-houses.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoQJ1DbttDg
- https://www.honeybeesuite.com/how-to-make-an-awesome-nesting-block/
- https://soybeanresearch.ppem.iastate.edu/files/inline-files/build_your_own_solitary_bee_nest_-_isu_2014_0.pdf
- https://www.reddit.com/r/solarpunk/comments/118e8gn/basic_yet_brilliant_idea_anyone_figure_out_how_to/
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