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Solitary Bee Houses

lily6lily6 Posts: 79
in The potting shed
When should I put my solitary Bee houses out. They are about 90% occupied. I put them in the shed over Winter as the wall they are on gets very cold and wet, but baked in the Summer.I don't want to spoil their efforts. 
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Posts

  • lily6lily6 Posts: 79
    What a great idea! If there is any one on the forum that knows about bees I live at the top of the Chiltern Hills. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    @wild edges
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Late March by the latest I would have thought but it depends on the weather. Mason bees will be emerging from late March but leaf cutters will stay tucked up until summer. You may have other things in there though so if you can get it up somewhere sunny and sheltered they can pick their own times.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Is it necessary to take the houses in? Mine are southfacing, under an overhang; The sort you have WE.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I didn't take mine in this year and they've taken a battering with the weather so I wish I had taken them in. If they're in a sheltered spot then they're fine to stay out though. The ones at the front of the nests are high risk whatever happens, weather, birds, other insects but the ones at the back should be fine.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I guess if the plug at the front of the tunnel stays in place, the larva have failed. Photos are the only way of telling for me...
  • lily6lily6 Posts: 79
    Thanks all for the info. The way the weather is, I think we're going to have to choose the day carefully! I've got 4 bee houses, definitely some leaf cutter larvae in them, we were facinated watching them leaving us with holey roses last Summer. 
  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813
    I made two from scrap wood and they are permanently attached to my Allotment shed.

    ? Why would you want to move them

    Get them facing the right way and just watch the bees.
    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I've been musing ways to protect the nests from the weather since reading this. I think it just needs something simple as a rain guard that leaves a gap of a cm or so in front of the tubes that can be fitted in the winter. If it could be replaced with a mesh to keep the birds away in the spring and summer that would also be a good idea.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813
    https://www.foxleas.com/make-a-bee-hotel.asp
    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
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