23/08/2021
After our recent poll, I thought it would be fitting to share some facts about bee hotels and their role in our environment .. 🐝
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The holes of a bee hotel mimic those found in nature. They are usually made by other insects in dead wood.
These holes create a safe space for solitary bees to rest and breed.
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The female solitary bee will find a hole that suits her best.
She will fly back and forth in a garden collecting pollen and nectar.
A paste is then formed from the pollen and nectar and she places it at the end of a hole - her "pantry".
Depending on the species, she will either lay her eggs on or next to the pollen mixture. This will be the young bee's food supply as they grow to maturity inside the nest.
Once she has filled her "pantry" and completed laying eggs, she will seal the entrance to her hole to protect the eggs.
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Different materials can be used to seal the nests; mud, saliva, leaves and petals to name a few.
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Information gathered from www.beehotels.co.za
