Comments on: Cacoxenus indagator flies & bee mites: the main parasites of solitary bees http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/parasites-of-solitary-bees/ Mason Bees, solitary bees and other native bees Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:32:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Jess http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/parasites-of-solitary-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-880 Jess Mon, 16 May 2011 11:12:29 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=224#comment-880 Thanks sooooooo much for this great site and all the good information about solitary bees. I set out two bundles of cut bamboo sections in my yard in New York City. I managed to insert rolled paper tubes into the bamboo, but it's not really easily removed. I figure I'll just use these for this year and set up a better system next year, so I can inspect and clean the bee cocoons in the future. To my delight, I already have four of the bamboo tubes capped with mud by Osmia cornifrons. Two bees are busily working on two other tubes. This was all a treat, until today. When I was trying to get a few photos of the bees coming and gong about their work, I notices a little fly hovering around. I got a good shot of it when it landed on the front of the condo. After googling around, I found photos of it....the dreaded Cacoxenus indigator. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! I'm really bummed out that they found this little, new condo so quickly. Is there any way to discourage these little @@ #$%#$%&s? I was planning on leaving the condos out through mid summer, expecting that I might get some leaf-cutter bees move in to some of the empty bamboo tubes. I'm feeling guilty that I'm dooming my bee babies to the flies. Disheartened in Brooklyn, Jess Thanks sooooooo much for this great site and all the good information about solitary bees. I set out two bundles of cut bamboo sections in my yard in New York City. I managed to insert rolled paper tubes into the bamboo, but it’s not really easily removed. I figure I’ll just use these for this year and set up a better system next year, so I can inspect and clean the bee cocoons in the future.

To my delight, I already have four of the bamboo tubes capped with mud by Osmia cornifrons. Two bees are busily working on two other tubes. This was all a treat, until today. When I was trying to get a few photos of the bees coming and gong about their work, I notices a little fly hovering around. I got a good shot of it when it landed on the front of the condo. After googling around, I found photos of it….the dreaded Cacoxenus indigator. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! I’m really bummed out that they found this little, new condo so quickly.

Is there any way to discourage these little @@ #$%#$%&s?

I was planning on leaving the condos out through mid summer, expecting that I might get some leaf-cutter bees move in to some of the empty bamboo tubes.

I’m feeling guilty that I’m dooming my bee babies to the flies.

Disheartened in Brooklyn,

Jess

]]> By: Nicole http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/parasites-of-solitary-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Nicole Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:19:31 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=224#comment-853 I was hoping to get some advise. I have a bee hive in my back yard. It has been very successful for the past 4 years. Before this, each hive would start acting strangly and soon die. Today I saved a few bees from my swimming pool and I thought they were showing weird behavior. I looked closer and saw tiny yellow-oarnge short worm shaped things on the bees backs. Is this something I can help to protect the hive? Respectfully, Nicole I was hoping to get some advise. I have a bee hive in my back yard. It has been very successful for the past 4 years. Before this, each hive would start acting strangly and soon die. Today I saved a few bees from my swimming pool and I thought they were showing weird behavior. I looked closer and saw tiny yellow-oarnge short worm shaped things on the bees backs. Is this something I can help to protect the hive?

Respectfully,
Nicole

]]> By: wood50 http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/parasites-of-solitary-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-765 wood50 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:22:49 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=224#comment-765 Gordon - Thank You SO Much for all the great info on OMB's! Do you use 1 x 8 x 12 pine boards for you peek-a-boo trays? Are the groves 7mm wide and 7mm deep? Does it matter what type of clear plastic you use on top? Again Thank You!! Gordon – Thank You SO Much for all the great info on OMB’s! Do you use 1 x 8 x 12 pine boards for you peek-a-boo trays? Are the groves 7mm wide and 7mm deep? Does it matter what type of clear plastic you use on top? Again Thank You!!

]]> By: Gord Hutchings http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/parasites-of-solitary-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-717 Gord Hutchings Sun, 05 Dec 2010 05:51:39 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=224#comment-717 Hey Paul, It's cocoon extraction and condo cleaning season here and I've just finished my last class. However, I wanted to show you the sand cleaning method, but using a tube instead of a jar. So, I put up some photos from the last class, plus a demo of a clear tube I made so folks can see what goes on inside the tube. I don't have it on Youtube but it's on my website. It can be seen at http://sites.google.com/site/hutchingsbeeservice/how-to-clean-bees I have a very busy Spring coming up with lots of public presentations and classes, plus I'm now able to show off my entomological talents (instead of mason bee hobby), by bringing into it, my knowledge on our native bee species and their life-cycle and biology. Just thought I'd pass things along to you from here in Canada. Cheers, Gord Hey Paul,
It’s cocoon extraction and condo cleaning season here and I’ve just finished my last class. However, I wanted to show you the sand cleaning method, but using a tube instead of a jar. So, I put up some photos from the last class, plus a demo of a clear tube I made so folks can see what goes on inside the tube. I don’t have it on Youtube but it’s on my website. It can be seen at http://sites.google.com/site/hutchingsbeeservice/how-to-clean-bees
I have a very busy Spring coming up with lots of public presentations and classes, plus I’m now able to show off my entomological talents (instead of mason bee hobby), by bringing into it, my knowledge on our native bee species and their life-cycle and biology. Just thought I’d pass things along to you from here in Canada.
Cheers,
Gord

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