Procrastinate! It can be good for the bees!
Did you know there are native bees that make their nests in hollowed out twigs? About 30% of the 4,000 different native bee species in North America are categorized as cavity nesters. This means they make their homes in excavated holes in dead wood, bricks, and pithy plant stems. Like the old canes on my raspberry plant.
Last year I found several Small Carpenter Bee nests in the old canes of my raspberry plant. Small Carpenter Bees make up the group, aka ‘genus’ in science talk (one level above species), called Ceratina. They are a common type of native bee found throughout much of North America. Unlike the well-known honeybee, Ceratina have small family units usually around 5-10 individuals in one nest. They do not produce honey. They are relatively small (they do have to fit inside twig holes after all), and are very friendly since they do not have a big honey pot to defend.
Before I saw the Ceratina nesting in my old dead raspberry canes, I was going to move my raspberry plant to another part of the property (instead of sitting at the top of my driveway). However, after seeing the bush was currently occupied, I didn’t want to move it and risk the Carpenter Bees not being able to find their homes. I decided to wait until winter when the bees would be hibernating to move the bush. Well, truthfully, I had planned to move the bush at night when all the bees were home to make sure they didn’t lose it, but, well, somehow I never seemed to remember (ah-hem, ok, * feel like it *) after dinner. And then winter came, and I don’t like the cold… Anyway, I moved the bush to its permanent place first thing this spring, before the bees started waking up.
The bees seem to be totally fine with the bush’s new location this year and I’ve seen them a number of times zipping about. Or pollinating the raspberry flowers that are connected to their home. Or hiding in their little stick houses. They do seem to be a bit bashful. Every time I check their nests to see if they are home, they have their butts towards me!
I did finally manage to get a photo of one on my chives plant flowers. Really, really, seemed to love the chives flowers lol. I can’t quite tell which species this is from the photo, but you can tell it’s a Ceratina bee by the abdomen (aka butt) kinda being shaped like a water bottle. You know, the kind with the indented ridge thing going on? Yeah. That’s the one…
So. Next time you’re thinking about cleaning up your garden, or the messier lawn or wood edges, think about the bees. Procrastinate. Bee a bit lazy. It might just save a bunch of bee homes 🐝😄🐝
Interested in more about the Small Carpenter Bee? Check out some of the really cool research done in the Rehan Lab!
Other resources to learn more:
Questions? Comments?
We’re still trying to figure out how to add comment boxes to the blog, so in the meantime, send me an email!
We’re also on Facebook now so you can leave a comment or start a discussion there too if you want.
Join the email list
Want Bug News stories & announcements sent to your inbox? Join the Bug News email list
Support the blog!
Like my blog? Want to help keep the new content coming and the pages ad free? Consider becoming one of my Patreon Patrons! Any amount, big or small, helps me spend more time creating and less time trying to keep the lights on. Patreon Patrons can also get exclusive access to monthly newsletters, story sneak peeks, story requests, and more! Please consider supporting the blog and check out my Patreon Patron support page.
Ok, you say, but what is this Patreon thing you are talking about? Patreon is a service that helps connect content creators with folks who want to help support creative endeavors. Patreon is setup to be able to safely handle the financial side of transactions so both the patron and the creator can be confident their information is secure. You can read more about what Patreon is HERE.
Thank you!!
Not interested in a Patreon monthly subscription? Prefer to make a one-time contribution? We have that option too! Help support the blog with a one-time donation through PayPal instead! Thank you!!
