Artificial Habitats for Tube Nesting Bees

plans for this box

Overview: There are more than 20,000 species of bees. The greatest diversity is found in the tropics, but over 3,500 species have been reported in North America. A few species are social and live in colonies. Bumble bees and honey bees are social bees. However, most bee species are solitary insects that live in a hole in the ground or in a hollow tube-like cavity. They form a pollen ball mixed with a little nectar, lay an egg on the pollen ball, seal the cell for the young to develop. In solitary bees, the young have no contact with their mother. Their mother's only contribution to their future is to provide them a pollen ball in a suitable location.

The First project: Gage County 4-H'ers and the Beatrice Tribs EQIP program joined together in 2002 to make and provide free tubular nesting boxes for mason bees, leafcutter bees, and other native species of pollinating bees. Participants who picked up a box were asked to report on any activity taking place in their nest box. This project was so popular that we (UNL Cooperative Extension Educator's in Gage County) started looking for other ways to use it.

In the spring of 2003 we decided to try it as a session at Camp Renegade, a camp for area youth, ages 8-10. We knew that some minor modifications would need to be made due to the target audience.

Some of the modifications we made were:

to reduce the number of nesting holes needed.
We also allowed the kids to drill the holes in patterns, even in the shape of their initials.
The final modification we made was to add additional bee patterns. The kids decorated their bee box by tracing, then coloring a bee on the side(s). (See patterns below)

Solitary bees contribute to pollination. Some solitary bee species have only one or a few plant species that they visit. In some cases, they are the only pollinator for certain plants, and without their pollinator, the plant would become extinct. Some solitary species are only active for a few weeks each year. Their life cycles are timed to coincide with the bloom of their preferred forage plant(s). Other solitary species may have several generations per year. Solitary bees do not defent their nest and rarely sting. If disturbed, their only instinct is to try to escape.
Tube-nesting species are the subject of this project. In a natural setting, they nest in tubular cavities such as hollow plant stems and holes made by woodpeckers.
They will also readily nest in man-made tubes of suitable diameter and depth. These man-made nesting boxes for native tube nesting bees are of great interest to us since wild honey bee colonies have been largely eliminated by mites.

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Native Tube-Nesting Bees who might make use of the habitat shown above

Orchard Mason Bees
The larger holes in this nesting habitat is designed for several important backyard pollinators. It is perfect for the Orchard Mason Bee, the blueberry bee, and the hornfaced bee. Several of the native leafcutters will also use these holes, each one a friendly pollinator in your garden. These bees bring pollen and nectar to the holes, mix it into the proper sized lump and lay an egg into it. Then with mud, they fashion a thin but strong cell wall. They continue until all the holes are filled or they run out of eggs. The larvae eat the food, spin cocoons about themselves, and inside the cocoons metamorphose into adult bees. They hibernate over winter to come out in the early spring, mate and start the process over again.

Hang the habitat on a nail against a warm, sunny and wind-protected wall under an eave to keep the rain off.
Do not hang it in a tree or on a post. The bees will find the blossoms - that is their life's work.
In the fall, bring the habitat inside to an unheated outbuilding or even a refrigerator. They want to hibernate in temperatures that average 30 degrees F. Replace the habitat in the spring when the dandelions appear.
Emerging bees prefer clean holes in which to nest. Use two nesting habitates, alternating each year. Clean by brushing or re-drilling holes and rinsing with a mild cholorine solution.

Leafcutter Bees
The smaller holes are specifically sized for the Leafcutters. Leafcutting bees are to found in most of North America. These gentle bees carefully cut pieces from leaves and "stitch" them together with their jaws into a hollow tube into which they deposit pollen and nectar. Then they lay a single egg in the cell and seal the cell with a series of perfect circles cut from a leaf. Some species seal the cell with a pasta made from macerated leaf. The egg becomes a larvae. The larvae eats the food and then spins a cocoon around itself. During the winter the bee completes its metamorphisos and emerges when the weather warms in June to mate and begin the cycle once again.
Hang the habitat on a warm sunny wall protected from rain and wind. The bees will do the rest.

Bee A Bumble Booster!
The distribution and abundance of Nebraska bumblebee species is not known. Twenty different species have been reported in the state, but several species have not been collected since the early 1900s. Bumblebees are valuable pollinating insects. By collecting and recording data from around the state, the current distribution and abundance of bumblebees and their preferred forage plants will be established.
Gage County Cooperative Extension is interested in working with persons who would collect some bumblebees for identification. We have a collection and resource kit at the office. If interested call (402) 223-1384 or email Paul Hay, Extension Educator at phay@unlnotes.unl.edu Identified samples and the collector's name would be listed on the bumble booster website at: http://bumbleboosters.unl.edu

Plans to build your own tube nesting habitat

Begin with a 4x4 block of wood. DO NOT use CCA Treated lumber. May also be two single or a double 2x4.
Cut an angle at the top of the block and nail or screw a roof piece to the angle. This protects the block from moisture.
Drill a hole in the center - back, above the mid-line, on an upward angle for a hanger.
Drill varying hole sizes - 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8" - the middle range of sizes are the most likely to be used.

Hang in a sunny locations, 3-15 feet off the ground.

If, after several years, bee activity slows down, it could be the predators to bees, like fungi and mites are the problem. Redrill the holes and drop the nest block in a clorox and water solution for a half hour, dry and rehang.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska and U.S. Department of Agriculture. We assure reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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