Comments on: Native Pollinators: How to Protect and Enhance Habitat for Native Bees http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:17:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: BioDan23 http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-203 BioDan23 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:12:52 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-203 I found this honey bee wildflower seed mix on the web. I am going to try and find some mixes locally. If I can't find any, I may order this one and try it. http://www.wildflowermix.com/info/custom/honeybee.html I found this honey bee wildflower seed mix on the web. I am going to try and find some mixes locally. If I can’t find any, I may order this one and try it.

http://www.wildflowermix.com/info/custom/honeybee.html

]]> By: Laura http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-201 Laura Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:18:26 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-201 I live in PDX and have been hosting Orchard Mason Bees for 6-7 years. My yard is a bee and bird-friendly habitat, plus I live near a park; my bees are healthy and active. I have lots of hibernating bees if you're looking for some. I'm also glad to help people get started hosting bees, and share what I've learned about the different ways people manage their bees. I live in PDX and have been hosting Orchard Mason Bees for 6-7 years. My yard is a bee and bird-friendly habitat, plus I live near a park; my bees are healthy and active. I have lots of hibernating bees if you’re looking for some.

I’m also glad to help people get started hosting bees, and share what I’ve learned about the different ways people manage their bees.

]]> By: Nigel Jones http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-200 Nigel Jones Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:12:20 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-200 Hi, I'm from the UK and I run a website called Solitary Bees: www.insectpix.net. I regularly get enquiries from the USA, from people wanting to eliminate ground nesting bees, for all the usual reasons around fear of insects and bees in particular. I always do my best to reassure correspondents that there is really nothing to fear and I usually signpost people to the Xerces website. It would be very useful if Xerces could produce some basic material explaining how active aggregations of ground nesting bees are harmless and actually provide a great opportunity to enjoy nature. The Native Pollinators leaflet is really great, but could be improved by adding something along the lines I have suggested - right at the beginning of the leaflet, or by producing a separate leaflet - as simple as possible, expounding the delights of solitary bees and the harmless nature of these wonderful insects. Best wishes Nigel Jones Hi,
I’m from the UK and I run a website called Solitary Bees: http://www.insectpix.net. I regularly get enquiries from the USA, from people wanting to eliminate ground nesting bees, for all the usual reasons around fear of insects and bees in particular. I always do my best to reassure correspondents that there is really nothing to fear and I usually signpost people to the Xerces website. It would be very useful if Xerces could produce some basic material explaining how active aggregations of ground nesting bees are harmless and actually provide a great opportunity to enjoy nature. The Native Pollinators leaflet is really great, but could be improved by adding something along the lines I have suggested - right at the beginning of the leaflet, or by producing a separate leaflet - as simple as possible, expounding the delights of solitary bees and the harmless nature of these wonderful insects.
Best wishes
Nigel Jones

]]> By: gloria Schlaepfer http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-192 gloria Schlaepfer Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:03:15 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-192 I live in southern California and have a nest box for native bees that was put up several years ago. NOw that it is spring here, what do I do about the box because the cardboard tubes are filled from last year? Should I replace them with new tubes? Or what? Thank you. I live in southern California and have a nest box for native bees that was put up several years ago. NOw that it is spring here, what do I do about the box because the cardboard tubes are filled from last year? Should I replace them with new tubes? Or what?

Thank you.

]]> By: Charlene http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-189 Charlene Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:30:21 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-189 I use the "leave some bare ground for them to do their own thing" approach, but I know that's not pro-active enough for most people. I can't say that I "have" any bees, but they do spend a lot of time in my yard. In the 7 years since I've been taking up lawn and gradually adding native plants the number and diversity of the different kinds of pollinators and other beneficial bugs has been gradually on the rise. And the side benefit is that I don't have to kick myself anymore for not filling up all the open space fast enough. I use the “leave some bare ground for them to do their own thing” approach, but I know that’s not pro-active enough for most people. I can’t say that I “have” any bees, but they do spend a lot of time in my yard. In the 7 years since I’ve been taking up lawn and gradually adding native plants the number and diversity of the different kinds of pollinators and other beneficial bugs has been gradually on the rise. And the side benefit is that I don’t have to kick myself anymore for not filling up all the open space fast enough.

]]> By: Dave http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-184 Dave Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:16:21 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-184 Answers to many of the questions that folks have raised can be found in the Pollinator Conservation Handbook published by none other than The Xerces Society. This is a great little book and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in bees or other pollinators. Answers to many of the questions that folks have raised can be found in the Pollinator Conservation Handbook published by none other than The Xerces Society. This is a great little book and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in bees or other pollinators.

]]> By: Cheryl Brunson http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-181 Cheryl Brunson Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:43:41 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-181 I have had bee boxes for a number of years. I have blue orchard bees and alfalfa leaf cutter. They nest in the same boxes, at different times. My boxes are only 3-4 inches deep and they produce millions of females. The boys come out first--don't dispair! the girls will be there in a day or two. I have never cleaned out my boxes, just let the bees use the holes that are there. I also make nests by rolling clean paper arouond a small dowel and taping it shut, then folding up the end to make a closed on one end tube. The bees use them just fine. I have had bee boxes for a number of years. I have blue orchard bees and alfalfa leaf cutter. They nest in the same boxes, at different times. My boxes are only 3-4 inches deep and they produce millions of females. The boys come out first–don’t dispair! the girls will be there in a day or two. I have never cleaned out my boxes, just let the bees use the holes that are there. I also make nests by rolling clean paper arouond a small dowel and taping it shut, then folding up the end to make a closed on one end tube. The bees use them just fine.

]]> By: tcannard http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-178 tcannard Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:25:42 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-178 Another good PDF for Blue Orchard Bees is: http://www.sare.org/publications/bee/blue_orchard_bee.pdf Step by step instructions for managing the bees are available either as a book or DVD from: http://beediverse.com/ Another good PDF for Blue Orchard Bees is:

http://www.sare.org/publications/bee/blue_orchard_bee.pdf

Step by step instructions for managing the bees are available either as a book or DVD from:

http://beediverse.com/

]]> By: kdouglas http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-177 kdouglas Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:06:13 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-177 Hi Jules, We don't seem to get too many answers on this list. From what I've read though, the 3 inch deep holes are likely to only produce male bees since deeper or longer holes are needed to create the environment for female larvae. We wondered the same question about sterilization. I've not seen any answers to that. I'd speculate that in the natural world with enough bees, some could be lost to mites and the like and bees were had more opportunity for finding new nests in the natural world. When trying to encourage bees and mitigate risk of loss, then it is worthwhile to sterilize. At least that's my 'common sense' thinking on the subject. Hope it helps. Hi Jules,
We don’t seem to get too many answers on this list. From what I’ve read though, the 3 inch deep holes are likely to only produce male bees since deeper or longer holes are needed to create the environment for female larvae. We wondered the same question about sterilization. I’ve not seen any answers to that. I’d speculate that in the natural world with enough bees, some could be lost to mites and the like and bees were had more opportunity for finding new nests in the natural world. When trying to encourage bees and mitigate risk of loss, then it is worthwhile to sterilize. At least that’s my ‘common sense’ thinking on the subject. Hope it helps.

]]> By: Jules http://www.xerces.org/2008/07/21/how-to-protect-and-enhance-habitat-for-native-bees/#comment-173 Jules Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:56:45 +0000 http://www.xerces.org/?p=5847#comment-173 Hi, This PDF on native pollinators is a great resource. Thanks, Xerces, for all the wonderful work you do! I have a couple questions on bee boxes. I recently became the recipient of a large 3 x 6 piece of wood with tons of holes drilled in it. I can see it has been used by insects in the past. Unfortunately, the holes were drilled the short length so they are only 3 in. deep. Is it still worth cleaning this out and using it? Also, I've seen other reports that emphasize the need to clean and sterilize homemade boxes each year. What is your position on that? If I just run the drill through the holes again, will that clean them enough? What happens in natural nests? Do they just not get re-used? Thank you! Hi,
This PDF on native pollinators is a great resource. Thanks, Xerces, for all the wonderful work you do!
I have a couple questions on bee boxes. I recently became the recipient of a large 3 x 6 piece of wood with tons of holes drilled in it. I can see it has been used by insects in the past. Unfortunately, the holes were drilled the short length so they are only 3 in. deep. Is it still worth cleaning this out and using it?
Also, I’ve seen other reports that emphasize the need to clean and sterilize homemade boxes each year. What is your position on that? If I just run the drill through the holes again, will that clean them enough? What happens in natural nests? Do they just not get re-used?
Thank you!

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