Modular Solitary Bee House

Full Description

These Modular Solitary Bee Houses are shaped like honeycomb, so they can be used individually or arranged in patterns to make a piece of “wall art” that not only looks great, but also attracts solitary bees. Filled with removable bee nesting tubes, that have been designed specially to appeal to solitary bees, the tubes can be easily removed for annual cleaning / inspection – great for kids, so they can see what is happening. It also means you can “harvest cocoons” and re-locate them other areas of the garden or give them to friends. Designed to attract non-swarming solitary bees like Mason Bees, Leafcutter Bees and other solitary bees, these friendly bees are safe around children and pets and almost never sting, but are effective plant pollinators. These Modular Solitary Bee Houses come complete with the nesting tubes (replacement tubes are available as it is recommended they are changed every few years) are hexagonal in shape, so they can be easily fitted together and they measure 21cm across at the widest point and are 16cm deep.

The Solitary Bee House is made from durable timber and is packed with removable nesting tubes, which can be removed for inspection and/or cleaning. The hole sizes are designed to attract non-swarming bees like the Red Mason Bee, Leafcutter Bee and other solitary bees. These friendly bees are safe around children and pets (they rarely sting) and are naturally attracted to holes in wood – holes which are becoming harder to find in modern gardens. The Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa) is active in the garden from March to July and is responsible for pollinating top fruit and soft fruit. The Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) is active in the garden from late April to late Julyand is an effective pollinator of summer flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Solitary bees then lay their eggs inside the holes and seal them with mud or chewed up vegetation, so it is easy to tell if it is being used. The following year the adults AND their offspring will use the same nest again building up the numbers of solitary bees visiting your garden each year. Site the solitary beehive 1-1.5 metres high, in a sheltered site which catches the morning sun and near scented plants. A mud supply is useful, but not essential. Height x 20cm width x 18cm depth x 16cm. Approx weight 1.5kg.

• Site in a sunny position facing between south south east to catch some morning sun. Mounting height between ground level and 1.5m.
• No chemical treatments needed as the habitat is made from durable timber.
• Nesting tubes may be inspected after bee activity has ceased i.e. in the Autumn/Winter.