More bee stuff...

[mallt]

So what do you do once the bees have filled up all the holes?
In the fall when it starts to get colder I can take the trays apart & use the scoop I got as part of the kit to remove the cocoons. They can be stored somewhere cool until spring... if I want to delay the hatching (like I did this year) I can put the cocoons in the fridge, they need to stored 2 - 4 C. I was a little worried this year that the fridge was too cold but I guess it was OK!
Here's a picture of the trays so you can see how they come apart:


Here's the scoop:


& here's a Mason bee... as you can see she's not yellow & black like most bees... they look black because they move fast but they are generally iridescent blue or green:


So why keep these bees when they don't give anything back other than the next generation? There has been a decline in all kinds of pollinators so this is a way to encourage a growth in the population. Why do it? Because it's a good thing to do :)

The advantage to keeping honey bees (other than the obvious yummy & useful by products) is that unlike Mason bees, which are mainly spring pollinators, honey bees work all summer. As I eventually want to have more fruit & veg in my garden at the new place, pollinators will be a key component & I'll need them later in the season than I think the Mason bees will be around.


Comments

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

There is no risk of cross breeding? Do they affect local native bee populations?

Will they expand a hive beyond the local one you have?

[mallt.livejournal.com]

They are completely different to honey bees so I don't see there being (no pun intended) a problem with cross-breeding... they co-exist, along with bumble-bees too! As far as I know they are native here. They aren't hive dwellers, they are solitary bees & every female is mated & will find somewhere to lay her eggs in whatever suitable "tube-like" structure she can find. Once my wee house is filled, if the females that hatched from my batch still want to lay they will go & find somewhere else to lay.

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

And they are purely pollinators then? I have so much to learn from you about small gardening. I can't wait to get started with my little patch in the back. :)

I most enjoy these posts of yours!

[mallt.livejournal.com]

Yes they're just pollinators, like bumble-bees. What I know I've just picked up this year... something caught my interest so I started researching more to satisfy my curiosity!

Thanks... it's good that I put this stuff down as it makes me take pictures & record what I'm doing... otherwise I'd just merrily go on my way & all that would be retained would be in my noggin... not all that reliable!