House for wild solitary bees in the background. Various species of Mason Bees (Osmia) or Leafcutter Bees (Megachile) will build cells in tunnels I that have drilled in dry logs, bricks and wood. In each cell they lay an egg, leave pollen for the larva to feed on, and then wall it up. There are some 250 species of solitary bees in Britain. Some of them are useful pollinators of fruit crops, they do not sting, and they add to a garden's biodiversity. The notice on the bee house was for one of our garden open days.
- For more information about some of the commoner and more distinctive solitary bees you are likely to see in your garden, go to my fact sheets page and download the PDF file about wild bees.
Part of 'dead hedge' beside vegetable patch can be seen on the right.

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© Marc Carlton 2006