Encouraging Solitary Bee Homes in Your Garden: A Boost for Pollinators, Explained
As the leaves begin to change and the air grows crisp, it's time to prepare your garden for winter. But before you start the clean-up, remember that many beneficial insects, such as bees, are hard at work preparing for their winter slumber.
During colder temperatures, bees enter a period called 'winter diapause', where they shelter from the weather to conserve energy until spring. Many wild bee species, including various solitary bees and some small social bees, use dead wood pieces and wood piles as winter quarters. They overwinter in hollow stems, dead wood, or wood stacks that provide shelter and protection during the colder months.
When cutting back woody plants, be sure to check for cavity nesting bees like mason or carpenter bees. Mason bee nests can be identified by neatly plugged holes with dead leaves or plant fibers, sealed with mud and/or resin. Carpenter bee nests are more difficult to spot as they do not seal the entrance like mason bees.
To preserve bee nests, cut stems 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) from the nest entrance and place them in a garage or other cool, dry area. Leaving at least a foot (31 cm.) of perennial stalks behind in the fall can serve as bee hotels for overwintering bees.
Leaving fall leaves where they land can provide essential shelter for bumble bee queens, butterflies, moth species, and other beneficial insects such as ladybugs. Creating a butterfly garden can benefit any number of other pollinators from bees to birds.
Many pollinators, like leafcutter bees and green sweat bees, will use the abandoned burrows of wood boring beetles as nest sites. Bees may also make nests in bamboo stakes or wooden dowels used in the garden, so be sure to examine them for nest sites as well.
While honeybees cluster together inside the hive to keep the queen warm and safe during winter, bumble bees die off naturally, leaving a scant few to mate with the queen during winter.
If you're interested in learning more about creating a bee-friendly garden, consider enrolling in a butterfly garden course or signing up for a gardening newsletter. These resources can provide valuable tips, videos, information, and even a free copy of the e-book "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes".
By taking a few simple steps to protect bee habitats in your garden, you can help ensure a thriving ecosystem for years to come. Happy gardening!
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