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Leaf cutter bee

ursula.gilroyursula.gilroy Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello, I’m growing sunflowers in a pot. At the weekend I noticed a leaf cutter bee coming and going from the pot and laying its eggs which it appears to have finished doing now.  I wonder can I still water the sunflowers? And what do I do with the pot over winter? I don’t mind losing the sunflowers to keep the bee eggs. Can anyone help? I’m a bit of a newbie gardener so sorry for my ignorance. Many thanks. 

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello @ursula.gilroy and welcome to the forum. I am not sure your bees are leaf cutter bees but are more likely to be burrowing bees. If it were me, I would sacrifice the sunflowers. This is a picture of my leaf cutter bee with its typical nesting habit.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    Although it is not as common, leafcutter bees do burrow - I have had leafcutter bees burrowing in trays in the greenhouse - its fascinating watching them fly in through the door with their leaf and later going out through the top window. 🙂
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    That is very interesting to hear @ShepherdsBarn.
    @ursula.gilroy, have you noticed your bees carrying leaves into the plant pot?
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Yes, there was someone the other day on the forum noting that leaf cutters were burrowing in seed trays in the green house.

    If you don't mind letting the sunflowers go, then maybe just  put the pot under cover outside - like in an open wood store or similar - so they don't get sodden over winter but can fly away when they hatch out next summer....
  • ursula.gilroyursula.gilroy Posts: 3

    Thank you for your replies.  I think it’s a leaf cutter as I watched her go back and forth with discs of leaves, probably taken from my rose bush! I was fairly delighted to observe her but then concerned whether I needed to do anything.  I’ve moved the pot now into my mini greenhouse which hopefully will be okay.    

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    As long as it won't get too hot it should be fine.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Rose leaves seem to be a favourite. I have had them use rose petals too in my bee nest box. :) I would just leave the pot alone until next year, making the sure the bees can fly away freely and not get stuck in a shed etc.
  • ursula.gilroyursula.gilroy Posts: 3
    Thinking about your comments I’ve moved it - I think it would be too hot in the mini greenhouse mostly because of location which gets very hot.  I’ve put it back up in the area where it was, which is on decking, but more in the shade. The garden is south east facing, its a sun trap on the decking though and it wouldn’t surprise me if the heat of Monday in particular hasn’t caused the eggs to perish anyway.  I’m a bit concerned the whole thing will just dry out completely without any slight watering, it’s literally compost in the pot with nothing else. I did read that it can take 10 days for the bee to finish laying her eggs, if that is the case then she was putting up with me watering her nest every few days!  
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I wouldn't water it. The eggs will be fine. It seems a similar habit to the mining bees - making holes in the earth to hide the eggs. In fact I would keep the tray out of the rain, if there is somewhere open that is covered.
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