Welcome to the Solitary Bee site
My family has a house in the country that was built a long time ago. Like all places where nature is close by, maintenance, repairs and renovations, can create conflicts with animals considering it their habitat. We can also find amazing micro-universes
I am constantly discovering wild animals - bats, salamanders, weasels and birds - that shelter in its nooks and crannies.
Particularly fascinating are the 'solitary bees' (European Red Mason Bees - latin name Osmia Rufa) that have stopped me from replacing the sandy mortar between the bricks. So I decided to do my best to offer them an alternative - artificial habitats which they have now adopted.
As I discover and observe what works for my solitary bees and what doesn't, I thought you might like to share the experience. I also hope may find the same inspiration in my solitary bee encouragement project, and focus on helping along nature yourself. Protecting native bees and their habitats is important; not only for the garden, but the wider eco-systems and our food-chains that we have so frequently take for granted. Most of the bee habitats can also be set-up and maintained as a hobby, and at little or no cost to you.
Solitary bees update: January 2009
They're all in the cocoon phase of their life cycle. Many remain in between the bricks, however my project aims to encourage them by providing artificial habitats. I have 110+ cocoons are carefully stored in the cellar (where low temperatures are constant but never freezing). This will delay their urge to emerge until I am sure there will be no further spring frosts - last year three frost caused major problems. Feel free to take a look at my solitary bee blog to follow our progress and on Twitter.com for the latest mini-news on what I am up to to preparation to encourage 2009's Mason Bee's activities. Thanks for stopping by, Paul.