Hello, I have a small courtyard about 5m square, which my 2 year old toddler plays in. I have noticed that in the bottom of my plant pots that holds a dwarf runner bean plant, a leaf cutter bee comes and goes. At least I think it is just one. Are leaf cutter bees solitary or will I be swarmed with them? I'm just worried about my 2 year getting stung. The plant pot is on a shelf low down, if I moved it to a higher place out of eye level of my toddler, would the bee still be able to find it? Hope someone can help.
Solitary bees don't seem to be in the least bit interested in us humans. They are too busy nest building and collecting pollen. We have had hundreds of the Red Mason bees over the years, just outside the back door. Not a single sting, but hubby has 'inhaled' one or two. Didn't even sting him then.
I've got two I made facing east at a height of about 6 foot, with sloping roofs and sides painted in bitumen paint (front is bare wood).
One is 8 blocks of pine, with various sized holes from 5-10mm. Because it's pine the holes do have splinters in, but some have been blocked up with mud, which has a textured surface.
The other one is from a block of hardwood I acquired, about 5" high and 18" wide. Hundreds of 4 and 8mm holes drilled. A few of the 4mm holes have been occupied, and the mud is very smooth, but none of the bigger holes are covered yet.
Not sure who's moved in but it's good to be providing them with a home.
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Hello, I have a small courtyard about 5m square, which my 2 year old toddler plays in. I have noticed that in the bottom of my plant pots that holds a dwarf runner bean plant, a leaf cutter bee comes and goes. At least I think it is just one. Are leaf cutter bees solitary or will I be swarmed with them? I'm just worried about my 2 year getting stung. The plant pot is on a shelf low down, if I moved it to a higher place out of eye level of my toddler, would the bee still be able to find it? Hope someone can help.
Cheers
Solitary bees don't seem to be in the least bit interested in us humans. They are too busy nest building and collecting pollen. We have had hundreds of the Red Mason bees over the years, just outside the back door. Not a single sting, but hubby has 'inhaled' one or two. Didn't even sting him then.
I've got two I made facing east at a height of about 6 foot, with sloping roofs and sides painted in bitumen paint (front is bare wood).
One is 8 blocks of pine, with various sized holes from 5-10mm. Because it's pine the holes do have splinters in, but some have been blocked up with mud, which has a textured surface.
The other one is from a block of hardwood I acquired, about 5" high and 18" wide. Hundreds of 4 and 8mm holes drilled. A few of the 4mm holes have been occupied, and the mud is very smooth, but none of the bigger holes are covered yet.
Not sure who's moved in but it's good to be providing them with a home.