Colorado is home to approximately 900 to 950 species of solitary bees. Unlike honeybees, solitary bees do not live in colonies. Instead, each female bee lives and nests alone, constructing her nest in wood cavities or tunnels in the ground. These bees are known for their gentle nature and are non-aggressive, making them ideal for observation and habitat creation. Although solitary bees do not produce honey, they are highly efficient pollinators, playing a vital role in supporting local ecosystems and agriculture.
In our Pollinator Habitat, we have installed a solitary bee house to support these valuable insects. The supplies for our bee house are sourced from Crown Bees. While the bee house welcomes all native bee species, we focus on encouraging Leafcutter bees by providing nesting trays of the proper size. Every fall, we harvest the bee cocoons from the nesting trays, storing them safely for release in the spring to continue the cycle. Additionally, we supplement our population by purchasing Leafcutter bee cocoons from Crown Bees, helping to ensure robust pollination throughout the growing season.
Link to crown bees is https://blog.nwf.org/2022/06/the-life-of-a-solitary-bee/
The Life of a Solitary Bee
https://blog.nwf.org/2022/06/the-life-of-a-solitary-bee/
Plant Talk Colorado: 1480—Solitary Bees
https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/insects-diseases/1480-solitary-bees/
Cool Colorado Bees
https://www.audubon.org/rockies/news/cool-colorado-bees
Native and Diverse, Our Solitary Bees
https://denvergardeners.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/native-and-diverse-our-solitary-bees/