Bamboo canes and nesting blocks for solitary bees
In the right hands, bamboo canes have been successfully used for years to attract solitary bees to nest inside. The key words here are ‘in the right hands’. People who successfully use them know what bees need, how to adapt the canes for the bee’s requirements, how to safely open the canes and manage the contents. This can take time and experience.
Go to any garden centre or pet store and look along the wildlife section. You will be amazed as to what is on offer for our wild bees.
Non-suitable materials inside solitary bee nest boxes
Straw, pine cones, wood fibres, dried wood wool, hay, wood chips and bark are great habitats for insects, e.g. earwigs which will predate on solitary bee eggs and eat pollen. Such materials have no place in a box made to encourage solitary bees. Non-bee insects or bug boxes yes, solitary bee nest boxes? Never!
Entrances blocked by sharp transverse fibres that will damage bee wings
Some nodes completely blocking the entrance
Some canes shortened by nodes
Some are complete wind tunnels. Bees would not waste time sealing the ends of these
The short length of usable ones would encourage more males, fewer females
Small node entrance, with a vast expanse of the bamboo cane on the other side, make it useless.
Windy Mersey Tunnel nesting canes!
Bee wings and a bee blocking entrances
How many are sealed at the rear end?
How many are useful to solitary bees?
Do you really like the plastic bumblebees?
What solitary bee species did they have in mind?
A few canes MAY be usable
The short length of usable ones would encourage more males, fewer females
Unclean canes
Pine cone??
Transverse sharp wood fibres to some entrances
How clean are the insides tunnels?
Great earwig resting place which eats pollen and any bee eggs!
The short length of usable ones would encourage more males, fewer females
Easy place for a spider to make a web
How do bees get inside?
Many similarities to above examples
How does a bee get inside?
Will it damage its wings?
Wooden nest block as supplied by Nurturing Nature
Notice how smooth and clean this nesting block is?
This will encourage bees to nest
The length encourages more female eggs to be laid
Suitable for solitary bees!
I can absolutely recommend this website if you wish to make your own nest boxes, with detailed instructions for making your own solitary bee nest box. How to make a bee hotel. a wealth of interesting and useful information by Marc Carlton.
For a more detailed account with videos see: Is your bee hotel a nursery for disease and pests?
You may also find this paper interesting: ‘Bee Hotels’ as Tools For Native Pollinator Conservation. A Premature Verdict?
For info and link to buy an excellent book Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by Steven Falk
An extremely useful resource supports this book by a special website feature within Steve Falk’s Flickr website which furnishes extra photos and other useful resources to assist with identification.
For more information about solitary bees visit BWARS
Interested in Citizen Science and pollinators? The Buzz Club
Hi, could you please inform me when you have new stocks of the
Award Winning Solitary Bee Observation Nest Box as I would like to make one please.
Will email you.
How can I buy one of the solitary bee observation boxes please?
I will email you Denise. Cheers, George
Hi, Please could you let me know when you have new stock of the Solitary Bee Observation Nest Box? Many thanks
will do.George
Hi,
I understand that you no longer make the solitary bee observation nesting box. However, we have a skilled volunteer who could follow instructions and make one for our community garden. Are you able to share some instructions on how to do it. Many thanks for your time and research.
I will email you Lizzie. Cheers George
Please can you advise when you will have stock of your solitary bee observation box, I wish to buy one for my grandson who is mad about bees. His birthday is in August, would that be too late to get any bees in the box?
Can’t, he have it a little earlier? Though it may still get occupants in late August see this female bee in late October
https://nurturing-nature.co.uk/wildlife-garden-videos/osmia-leaiana-using-nurturing-nature-solitary-bee-observation-nest-box-2016/
Hello
Please could you email when your solitary bee nest box is available again?
Thank you
Email me please via the contact from
Hi, Can you notify me when you have some more solitary bee boxes please?
Thank you.
Email me please via the contact form
I too would like to know when you have new stock of the Solitary Bee observation next box. Thank you.
Right now Dot. Thanks, George
Hi
Could you notify me when you have the solitary bee observation nest box in stock?
I was hoping to purchase one as a Christmas present for my 16 year old daughter, who is passionate about the environment and ecology and hopes to study the subject at university.
Many thanks
emailed you Claire. Thanks, George
Hi
I have the same question as Claire B.
Regards
Right now Stephanie! Cheers, George
Hi
Would love to purchase solitary bee nesting box.
Will there be new stock soon.
Thank you.
Emailed you Sara. Thanks, George
Please let me know when this product is available, as I wou;d like to place an order. Many thanks. Mike R.
Right now! Cheers, George
order placed! When may I expect delivery?
you have it now! Cheers G
Hi George – it looks like your products are really in demand. I would love a solitary bee obervation box for me and my family (and to share what we learn with others in the community). When might you have some more available please?
Will email you Ruth. Cheers George
Hi, I would like to purchase 2 of your solitary bee observation boxes & 2 of the summer windows. Could you please let me know when they will be back in stock?
Many thanks
I see you are sorted, Laura. Thanks George
Please email me when your solitary bee observation box is back in stock many thanks
just have Gill. Cheers George
Hi could you please email me when you have new stocks of your ward Winning Solitary Bee Observation Nest Box.
Thanks
David
sorted.
Hi please can you let me know when you have more stock of the Award Winning Solitary Bee Observation Nest Box as I would like to buy one, many thanks
will email you.
Hi there, can you let me know when youbwill have the solitary bee boxes back in stock? Want 2 more please one for us and one for my sons school. Plus another Summer block. Many thanks love these and the hours of relaxing time observing the bees.
Email me please Gillian thanks, George NN
Hello,
I’ve been reading The Garden Jungle and would also like to know when bee lodging is available. All very interesting!
Katharine Thomas .
Email me please Katharine. Cheers George NN
Please can you email me when your solitary bee boxes are back in stock.
Many thanks
Becca
Just emailed you, Rebecca. Cheers George NN
Hello. Could you please email me when you have new stocks of your ward Winning Solitary Bee Observation Nest Box. Many thanks.
I have emailed you Neville.
Hi – please can you let me know when you’ll have your solitary bee nest box available please (along with the summer bee box also). Many thanks.
Please email me matt. Thanks, George
Hello
Please can you tell me how/when I would be able to get an observation nest box please
Email me please from my website Theresa. Thanks, George NN