The content of the article:
The secret of a large number of lush colors and a rich harvest is good pollination. To make this process more productive, think about building a bee house in the backyard.
What does a bee "hotel" look like?
Such dwellings are similar to bird houses, but instead of birds they attract different local bees, for example, bee-masons. Unlike melliferous, these single insects are extremely obedient and pollinate three times more efficiently. Unfortunately, you can not get a single gram of honey, but your flowers will be fragrant and expand, and vegetables and fruits will be poured by force.
Bee houses are made up of wood, inside of which there are natural materials suitable for beekeeping: hollow reeds or tubes made of cardboard. They are an ideal habitat for solitary bees who like to settle nests there and pollinate surrounding plants.
6 tips for the successful development of a bee dwelling
We will share the experience of foreign gardeners and give six important recommendations that will allow you to coexist peacefully with buzzing insects.
Avoid too large
While the design, width, m and height, m looks great, attracts a lot of attention and increases the growth of local bees inside, this size will be too ambitious and, probably, will become a burden for content. As well as the birdhouses, which should be cleaned at the end of each year, the insect dwelling should be updated annually with fresh nesting materials. In general, it does not take much time, but think about how problematic it will be to manage all the "guests" who have settled inside.
Be sure to choose a house size that matches the surrounding area. For example, a cluster of flowering trees and shrubs can provide more pollen than a flower lawn. Accordingly, a larger structure is more relevant for the first option.
Protect nests from wind, rain and birds
Nesting insects require a place to live, which will be dry and safe. The ideal bee house will have a protuberance of about 7 cm, protecting the contents from weather whims. If the birds try to attack the nest holes, take the wire mesh and wrap it in a house like a bubble.
Do not install the network directly on the outputs from the sockets, as this prevents the bees from penetrating inside. They need a place to take off and land.
Use the right materials of the right size
Natural, accessible materials are best suited. Cardboard tubes and lake cane for bee nests with the right dimensions can easily be found on the Internet.
Avoid bamboo and plastic straws, as they do not give the right level of evaporation of moisture, which causes problems in the development of bees. Holes for nests should be from 4 to 10 mm, and in depth to leave about 15 cm. If the holes are too small, this will negatively affect the sexual function of the next generation of insects.
Location and a couple of words about the wasps
Orient the bee house to the morning sun, as single bees need warmth to get energy for the flight. Placing two buildings, each of which has slightly different angles, can bring the best result.
Most insects prefer the noonday shadow, but large shaded spaces attract single wasps. Usually, they are considered useful predatory insects, gardeners who attack such pests as caterpillars, larvae and aphids. Nevertheless, they can hunt the bee-dolls, climbing directly into the house.
In winter, bee larvae need protection
Make sure that the insect dwelling is easily accessible so that you can easily remove the filled nest tubes and store them in a warm, dry place. They must be kept in the same conditions and at a similar temperature, as in the open air, for example, in a garden shed or unheated garage.
Some varieties of bees can produce several generations per season, so monitor the filling of the nest tubes.
Collect bee-cocoons every spring
After protecting and storing nesting materials during the winter, remove them and collect the cocoons in the early spring. If possible, separate them in appearance. With proper care, these cocoons will turn into a new generation of pollinators and future tenants of the bee house.
Now you know a little more about these amazing creatures and what kind of shelter they need for living in your yard. Your efforts to build and maintain their homes will be repaid a hundredfold when it comes time to harvest.
