Solitary bees - 3 minutes of peace & tranquillity

[solitarybee]

I make the tubes myself - brown/recycled paper wrapped around a dowelling of the right? diameter + sellotaped. The back-ends are sealed with the same mud from the garden that they use ('smells' natural to them). Can make them quite easily, quickly and at no real cost. Plus off-season it's something to do in front of the telly!

My tubes weigh 2 grammes and with up to 8+ cells they've gone up 6g more.

[realcelestialphoenix]

good idea!- but do they go soggy when it rains?

[solitarybee]

The tubes are on a window sill, so under the eaves. Plus being of brown paper have a wax like outer surface. They are rolled around the dowelling at least three times. So, no sogginess + they can be unrolled late in autumn, the tubes can be disinfected of parasitic fly cocoons, and there's the 'Christmas morning' delight of knowing how many cocoons have formed. I made the first lot last year and got 6 cocoons in one tube - this year with longer tubes I may have up to 8 or 9 in several. All good.

[realcelestialphoenix]

i see - very good idea.

a friend of mine done it with hollow bamboo sticks.

[solitarybee]

These are great, but you have to grow or buy the bamboo and then you can't split it (at risk of damaging the cocooned bees) to monitor the cocoons. Nor can you keep down the parasites (I have Cacoxenus indagator) or ensure that failed cells do not obstruct the cocoon emerging bees placed behind them, and new nests.

A good free alternative to bamboo I discovered this year is 'Hogweed'. When dried most of the hollow stems are the perfect diameter for Osmies and other bees (see 26th April vid ).

[realcelestialphoenix]

whatever you do- dont get the sap over your skin

-it'll come out is massive blisters and sore spots....

[solitarybee]

Indeed, that's why I specified "dried". I collected and cut old hollow stems at at the start of the year before the new growth. The odour of the dried stems (if there is one) doesn't seem to put off the bees.

[realcelestialphoenix]

there's loads where i live- but it's mixed in with the hemlock

-will hemlock (dried stems) effect the bees?

[solitarybee]

My use of Hogweed was something I just tried out this year because I saw the internal diameters were about right. So maybe you should try the hemlock (I don't know it but its flower looks similar to h/w ). Let the bees decide and offer paper-tubes alongside.

I had thirty successful tube were sealed in end. Do remember to seal the back end or cut under a growth knuckle so no light comes in.

[realcelestialphoenix]

hemlock has a purple and green stem when it's fresh. looks the same as hogweed when dried- but thanks for the advice, i'll give it a go when it stops raining!

[solitarybee]

Good luck with it (hope it's stopped raining)

For the benefits of the wider discussion/project let us know if you find a way of distinguishing between the two and later, if hemlock is a possible candidate for solitary bee habitats. Cheers.

[rosmarinusofficialis]

I love your solitary bees. Tell me, where do you get your pipes from? From a specialists' shop?

[solitarybee]

In fact I got my nephew and other members of the family to help, and when you have a little production line going it's surprising how many you can turn out. I then put them into aluminium drinks cans (more recycling!). The trick is to use a tin opener for the top then with tin snips/secateurs cut into the shoulders of the can and fold inwards so there's no sharp edges.

[rosmarinusofficialis]

Thanks for the information. I may have a go in the winter.

[rosmarinusofficialis]

I had a look at your "26th April - a new specie arrives" video and I can now clearly see how you made the tubes etc.

[solitarybee]

...so you can see that this year (apart from my observation bee box lower down) I have been trying out some new habitats. These home-made paper tubes have got my vote for the moment, but the abundance of nearby hogweed + bulrush reeds is another cool possibility.

...and yes, making the paper tubes 'off-season' is a greater little time filler in the winter months... you'd be surprised how many people are happy to lend a hand and sit around a table making them.