We all know how vital honey bees are to our food supply and the importance of protecting them. Many of us might even be taking simple steps to do so. But did you know there are over 4,000 species of native bees in the U.S. alone? These native bees are actually more efficient pollinators for plants like eggplants and tomatoes compared to honey bees, who, interestingly enough, aren’t great at pollinating.
Alongside honey bees, these often-overlooked native bees contribute to pollinating over 75% of our food supply! These solitary bees come in various shapes and sizes, often resembling wasps or yellow jackets, and typically live alone rather than in hives. Even though they aren’t as well-known, they are crucial to our ecosystem.
Native bees don’t form colonies or make honey like honey bees and are generally harmless to humans. They rarely sting, and when they do, it’s less painful than a honey bee sting. However, they’re often mistaken for wasps or yellow jackets, leading to them being killed unnecessarily.
We can help protect these bees by learning more about them, refraining from killing them, and even creating habitats for them. The Forest Department offers a helpful guide for identifying different types of these bees.
I’m here to share some simple ways to build a bee house or bee hotel for your yard. These structures are perfect for Mason Bees and Leafcutter Bees, which seek out small holes to nest. Creating such habitats encourages their populations and provides protection. Building a bee house is also a fun and educational activity to do with kids since these bees are friendly and fascinating to observe!
You can make bee houses and hotels using scrap wood and leftover materials you probably already have at home. Here’s what to consider:
To create a bee house, you could start with a wooden box, add a sloped roof to keep the rain out, and fill it with drilled scrap wood. Make sure the house is at least 8-12 inches deep and drill holes 2-10 millimeters wide, spaced every inch. These holes should not pierce completely through the wood, and it’s crucial they are smooth.
Another option is to use a soda bottle filled with bamboo stakes, creating a cozy spot for bees. Cover the ends of hollow tubes with beeswax or clay and hang the structure in a dry, sunny location.
For larger “bee hotels,” you can stack multiple smaller bee houses inside a bigger wooden frame with an extended roof for protection against rain.
With the increasing awareness about declining bee populations, you can also buy pre-made bee houses. If you choose to go this route, get one with a good roof to keep out rain and varied hole sizes to suit different bee species.
Whatever bee house you build, it’s crucial to protect it during winter. If bees settle in your house during summer, they transform into pupae that emerge in spring. To shield them from harsh winter weather, move the bee house to a cold but dry spot like an unheated porch or garage from October to March.
Additionally, you should swap out the tubes or wood blocks every couple of years to prevent mold, fungus, or parasites. Do this in summer once the young bees have emerged.
So, are you considering making a home for solitary bees in your yard?
