www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-seven-the-alfalfa-leafcutter-bee natural-history-2 Natural History The alfalfa leafcutter bee belongs to the family Megachilidae. The Latin name refers to the large mandibles (jaws) of the bees in this group. Members of the Megachilidae family use their large, scissor-like mandibles to gather pieces of leaf, flower petals, mud, or plant resins for the construction of their nests. The genus, Megachile, includes bees […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-seven-the-alfalfa-leafcutter-bee the-advance-and-decline-of-the-us-leafcutter-industry The Advance and Decline of the US Leafcutter Industry After introduction, the alfalfa leafcutter bee spread westward to the Pacific coast, in the process becoming established as an important wild pollinator of alfalfa for seed production. By the early 1960s, the leafcutter’s value as a pollinator was well recognized, and alfalfa growers in western states had developed various artificial nest systems for rearing large […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-seven-the-alfalfa-leafcutter-bee Chapter Seven: The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee Eric Mader, Pollinator Outreach Coordinator, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation The alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata) (Figure 7.1) is the second oldest managed bee species in US. Like the honey bee, the alfalfa leafcutter bee (sometimes called the alfalfa leafcutting bee) is a nonnative species introduced from Europe and the Middle East. There are various […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees estimating-production Estimating Production Counting plugged nest holes is a poor way to determine actual bee production. Plugged nests may contain few live larvae, may have diseased or parasitized cocoons, exhibit poor sex ratios, or even contain empty chambers. To determine the health and size of a population, x-ray analysis (as described in Appendix B), or nest dissection is […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees storage-incubation-and-emergence-manipulation Storage, Incubation, and Emergence Manipulation Following nesting, larval development continues within the nest tunnel for several months with pupation occurring in late summer for BOBs and hornfaced bees. Adulthood is reached in autumn with the exact timing dependent upon local conditions. During this process cocoons can be randomly examined by careful dissection or x-ray analysis (see Appendix B) to monitor […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees release-rates-methods-and-end-of-season-removal Release Rates, Methods, and End-of-Season Removal Mason bees have a limited effective foraging range from the nest—probably not much more than 100 yards (~90 meters). At higher distances, bees tend to prefer nest sites closer to the forage source. Depending on the area to be pollinated, multiple shelters scattered throughout the orchard or farm may be needed. Current USDA Bee Lab […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees nest-shelters Nest Shelters Mason bee nests require protection from moisture, wind, and direct summer sunlight. In addition, nest shelters serve as a visual landmark for bees returning from foraging trips. Once installed, shelters and partially filled nests MUST NOT be moved during the nesting season. Any movement will result in disorientation for nesting bees and high numbers of […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees preferred-nest-dimensions Preferred Nest Dimensions For BOBs the preferred internal cavity dimensions are 19/64 inch (7.5 millimeters) in diameter by 6 inches (~152 millimeters) in length. These dimensions are highly attractive to nesting females and result in the highest number of female offspring. Smaller diameters and shorter cavity lengths result in more male offspring and fewer offspring altogether. Larger diameters […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees nest-materials Nest Materials Common materials used as mason bee nests include drilled wooden blocks, reed or bamboo sections, cardboard tubes, and grooved boards (Figure 6.15). Historically, the earliest mason bee nests in the US were similar to nest designs for the alfalfa leafcutter bee—consisting of drilled pine or fir boards, usually 6-inch x 6-inch boards up to 4 […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-six-mason-bees obtaining-and-handling-bees-trap-nesting-vs-purchasing Obtaining and Handling Bees: Trap Nesting vs. Purchasing A common way of obtaining mason bees is by trapnesting wild populations. Trap nests are set out in the fall or winter in locations that have good numbers of wild bees, then the nests are removed the following summer. Ideal locations to place nests are on the sides of old barns or wooden farm structures, […]