The first time I saw a Leafcutter Bee working, I was so mesmerized, I watched it for almost an hour. I’ve tried to get a photo of one carrying its prize piece of leaf but haven’t been successful yet.
I had learned about the importance of our native bees (called Solitary Bees) during a class at Desert Landscaping School so I was very happy to see them in the yard and have come to love them. So last month when I uncovered a nest while reworking a block wall, I felt so guilty! Below are photos of the cigar-like nest. I tried my best to relocate it.
Yesterday morning, I uncovered two more nests! According to the article in the above link, it could be that the larva have already matured and left. I really hope they have but just in case, I relocated them too.
I want the bees to come back so I thought about making a wood nesting block but then I had an epiphany! Since the bees have been using the block wall, why not make the whole thing a nesting site. So I got my trusty drill, a masonry bit and drilled between the blocks to make sure the opening would accommodate a little bee body 🙂
I know what you’re thinking….is she NUTS?! Encouraging bees so close to the house!
Yes…I’m nuts but that’s beside the point 🙂
Solitary bees have a much different behavior than honey bees. Read this: Solitary Bees
May many happy generations of bees find and use those holes!
There’s a post holding up our back porch which hosted many generations of a very small species of bee which moved so fast that I never really got a glimpse, much less a photo. They were only active for a couple of weeks in late May to early June. I wish now that I had set up a ladder and a tripod and tried to capture an image. Two years ago (November ’07) I repainted that post with an airless sprayer, and I guess they didn’t like it – haven’t seen ’em since. I regret painting that post.
Ah, that’s great. I have evidence that a leaf-cutter bee took a great chunk of agave leaf. That had to be tough to get rolled in the nest!
I love you and your drill. Sweet.