Solitary Bees

Well it started to get a little busy in the cake dome yesterday evening. Not only was the male population also accumulating inside, but they were already taking a very active interest in the newborn larger females; the latter version of the birds and the bees was in evidence. With this many in such a tight space and the weather looking like it probably wouldn’t kill them with a late frost (as it did a week ago), I made a judgement call. I transferred all to the box outside. I made sure there were a few holes for them to escape from, if so inspired. The overall desired effect was to calm them down but two females however escaped – one flew out into the 10°C air temperature, one flew into the house where she was later retrieved and placed in the box. Not without a struggle though.  The females are so much more determined to get on.

This transfer gave me the chance to count them, the cocoons (empty and discarded) and sadly, the dead.

To start with the dead:

• two of the half emerged bees that I found after the chill perished, also
• the four that were very feeble.
• I also found a very, very tiny 4mm long fully formed but evidently dead male bee.
• Two of the bees were female (one being a half emerged bee)

The total number of bees lost (probably most) to the frost last week stands at 10 males and two females. I hope it wasn’t all down to my inexperience, although I have learned from people in the Alternative pollinator forum (see Blogroll) that it is possible to store the cocoons in the fridge until a week before tree blossoms. Next time, if I interfere, I will probably do this.

Of the active bees now outside there were 10 females, and 14 males. I pray they are not going to be frosted out (it is April after all). In total, including the one female that flew off 8 bees have flown away.