Native Bee Motel

[Mozzie]

I started this project late last year and it went by the way side, thought it was timely to get back to it and finish it off.

The Native Bee Motel, or i have called it The Beehaven.

It will hang under our back balcony, i know we have Native Bees around,
they have made many sweet smelling spots in between our brick work under the balcony.

Good time to get them to move in.

 

[Randall]

They are lovely gentle things (native bees). It is easy for them to go unnoticed. Do you know if something like this works, or are you emulating what you see them use?

 

[Mozzie]

Hi Randall, you can purchase Native Bee Motels, rather than buying one, thought I would DIY one … I am in a Nat Bee group.

 

[Randall]

Do those holes open up to cavities? Or are they just the holes as we see them?

 

[Mozzie]

Hey Randall, No cavity, just the tube, nearly all Australia Natve Bees are solitary, no queen or workers. Only the female uses the tubes to lay her eggs.

 

[beast]

I would love to have bees. Particularly native ones but I think if I set one of these up on my block it would only become a home for wasps etc. Is there something in these to Particularly lure in bees? Sugar water etc.?

 

[Randall]

any update on how it's going mozzie?

 

[Mozzie]

any update on how it's going mozzie?

I had to pull it down and dismantle it Randall, in error i had a section, you can see the large piece in the middle, thats Camphor laurel wood. NOT brilliant of me shoving that in. So its still all pulled apart and i havent got back to it. I do have a smaller hotel hanging under the back verandah, no bees that i can see, but it is hanging up high.
The large Haven is quiet big and obtaining all the smaller tubes takes a while, i thought of bamboo stakes from a garden center BUT they are all treated.

now that you have prompted me i MUST get back to it

 

[Mozzie]

for interest these are our Native Bees of NSW.

Small and tiny some of them and truly beautiful.

Also they are NOT susceptible to the varroa mite thats hitting our Honey Bees thats in the news

 

[Chigger]

When growing tomatoes which are flowering have seen blue banded bees and another one, very tiny possibly delicate masked bee. Along with the usual European bee.

I take care not to use sprays etc which may cause them any harm. With what is going on with bees when springtime comes may set up a native bee shelter.

Although wasps are a problem at my place. Anyhow will see.

 

[Howling Dingo]

Cool project..