You are a marvel Mr Wild. I have a stachys right below the bee boxes but not spotted any carder bees this year. It would be wonderful if she is nesting - a third 'type' for the Pilkington box (at least, that I can identify)
I posted a few weeks ago about starting some landscaping in my garden, then coming across a bumble bee nest in a pile of soil. I put the project on hold until they had finished with the nest.
Over the last few days I've seen less and less activity around the nest, and keen to restart the project I started occasionally disturbing the nest entrance, when Ive done this before a bee has soon come out to inspect. But over the last few times I didn't se any bees.
Yesterday, I carefully disturbed the nest further and found no trace of them, not a sign, just a cavity where they would have been, but no remnants of any nesting material. So my project has resumed.
It was nice having them nesting in my garden, and proves that even with all the man made nests you can buy, all you might need is a pile of soil.
@LeadFarmer I'm getting bugger all leaf cutters nesting, though I have lots of space. Do you have more leaf cutters nesting than masons? I only seem to have masons. I'm quite surprised and sad not to see nesting going on. No signs of leaf cutting either, though I have seen it in previous years on roses.
This link says that LC bees like leaves from roses, willowherbs, birch trees, ash trees, horse chestnuts, lilacs and honeysuckles. We only have a lot of roses close by, from this list. Two birches have been taken from local gardens in the last few years. Hmmm
@LeadFarmer I'm getting bugger all leaf cutters nesting, though I have lots of space. Do you have more leaf cutters nesting than masons? I only seem to have masons. I'm quite surprised and sad not to see nesting going on. No signs of leaf cutting either, though I have seen it in previous years on roses.
This link says that LC bees like leaves from roses, willowherbs, birch trees, ash trees, horse chestnuts, lilacs and honeysuckles. We only have a lot of roses close by, from this list. Two birches have been taken from local gardens in the last few years. Hmmm
Has anyone shown interest in your 'Fancy Box?
Sorry for the late reply.
I seem to have mostly leaf cutters, or maybe it's the same bee? The leaf cutter nests are in tubes very close together. But no interest in the fancy box i'm afraid. There was a leaf cutter going into a tube this morning...
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Over the last few days I've seen less and less activity around the nest, and keen to restart the project I started occasionally disturbing the nest entrance, when Ive done this before a bee has soon come out to inspect. But over the last few times I didn't se any bees.
Yesterday, I carefully disturbed the nest further and found no trace of them, not a sign, just a cavity where they would have been, but no remnants of any nesting material. So my project has resumed.
It was nice having them nesting in my garden, and proves that even with all the man made nests you can buy, all you might need is a pile of soil.
I seem to have mostly leaf cutters, or maybe it's the same bee? The leaf cutter nests are in tubes very close together. But no interest in the fancy box i'm afraid.
There was a leaf cutter going into a tube this morning...