Comments on: Leaf-cutter bees outside my Studio http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/2009/06/leaf-cutter-bees-outside-my-studio/ Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:59:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Christine http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/2009/06/leaf-cutter-bees-outside-my-studio/comment-page-1/#comment-12904 Christine Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:29:56 +0000 http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/?p=1393#comment-12904 Hello Ian - great to hear about your leafcutters - aren't they amazing to watch? Thanks ever so much for commenting, it's fantastic to know that people are finding out about these great little bees. I love that you can just sit and watch them and even get very close to the tubes to see what they're up to. I've just been out taking photos of my leafcuttes for the blog, so I'll be updating fairly soon. I think I have two different species this year, and another one foraging in the garden but not nesting in my bee houses. So much to learn, especially about identification of species! Hello Ian – great to hear about your leafcutters – aren’t they amazing to watch? Thanks ever so much for commenting, it’s fantastic to know that people are finding out about these great little bees. I love that you can just sit and watch them and even get very close to the tubes to see what they’re up to. I’ve just been out taking photos of my leafcuttes for the blog, so I’ll be updating fairly soon. I think I have two different species this year, and another one foraging in the garden but not nesting in my bee houses. So much to learn, especially about identification of species!

]]> By: Ian Jenner http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/2009/06/leaf-cutter-bees-outside-my-studio/comment-page-1/#comment-12859 Ian Jenner Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:56:39 +0000 http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/?p=1393#comment-12859 Having set up an insect house this Spring I was fascinated to see bees starting to go in and out,and even more surprised when one of the tubes was blocked off with a leaf.I have been watching over the past 2 weeks and did not have a clue what sort bee they were.Have just found your website and it has answered all my unasked questions.Have found it very interesting,like you say they are not aggressive and even my young grandson has been sitting close to the box and watching.Thanks for the info! Having set up an insect house this Spring I was fascinated to see bees starting to go in and out,and even more surprised when one of the tubes was blocked off with a leaf.I have been watching over the past 2 weeks and did not have a clue what sort bee they were.Have just found your website and it has answered all my unasked questions.Have found it very interesting,like you say they are not aggressive and even my young grandson has been sitting close to the box and watching.Thanks for the info!

]]> By: Christine http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/2009/06/leaf-cutter-bees-outside-my-studio/comment-page-1/#comment-2002 Christine Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:07:07 +0000 http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/?p=1393#comment-2002 Hello Natalie, I'm sorry I didn't see your comments sooner. Yes, as you have worked out, the leaves turning brown and the long wait for them to hatch is all perfectly normal. The bees take several months to develop in the tubes, and they have all they need sealed in with them (the 'bee bread'). They will need somewhere cool and dry over winter, and will hatch out late next spring as fully-grown bees. I don't see anything wrong with taking the house with you when you move, although I think the main thing they need is rose leaves (or something similar), they should be able to find this themselves. However, I've never tried moving a bee house myself. Best wishes. Hello Natalie, I’m sorry I didn’t see your comments sooner. Yes, as you have worked out, the leaves turning brown and the long wait for them to hatch is all perfectly normal. The bees take several months to develop in the tubes, and they have all they need sealed in with them (the ‘bee bread’). They will need somewhere cool and dry over winter, and will hatch out late next spring as fully-grown bees. I don’t see anything wrong with taking the house with you when you move, although I think the main thing they need is rose leaves (or something similar), they should be able to find this themselves. However, I’ve never tried moving a bee house myself. Best wishes.

]]> By: Natalie Ratcliffe http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/2009/06/leaf-cutter-bees-outside-my-studio/comment-page-1/#comment-1866 Natalie Ratcliffe Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:58:32 +0000 http://www.christinefarmer.com/home/?p=1393#comment-1866 Sorry I have read the above article now and it has clarified a few things. Basically we are moving house this month and I am tempted to take the bees with us. The new house has a bigger garden and is on a leafy street, and there's a shed. However they really loved our bindweed and the new garden has none. I also have a jar of pollen grains I bought from a health food shop, would they like to eat this roundabout now or over Winter? They smell really rich and nutritious, although they're from somewhere warmer like the USA. The new house is two miles away from the old one in an area with more gardens. Does this sound ok? I will check links for bee friendly plants. Sorry I have read the above article now and it has clarified a few things. Basically we are moving house this month and I am tempted to take the bees with us. The new house has a bigger garden and is on a leafy street, and there’s a shed. However they really loved our bindweed and the new garden has none.

I also have a jar of pollen grains I bought from a health food shop, would they like to eat this roundabout now or over Winter? They smell really rich and nutritious, although they’re from somewhere warmer like the USA.

The new house is two miles away from the old one in an area with more gardens. Does this sound ok? I will check links for bee friendly plants.

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