Bee nests

I made this bee block, or nest, last year. Most bees are solitary bees. This means they do not have a hive like honey bees. They lay their larva in holes and provide enough pollen and nectar for them to grow. They place the female larva towards the back, so if the hole is invaded the males get eaten first. They eventually grow and push their way out of the hole.


This is the new block I made this season. The wood doesn't seem to be splitting the way the original one did.

This is a photo of some of the holes that have been filled. They use a piece of leaf or mud to cover over the end.
To learn more about the importance of bees see Xerces Society