Remodel Your Garden for Bees to Fight the Global "Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD
Potential culprits are debated, with causes asfar ranging as climate change and mutated viruses to pesticides and even cell phone signals. But the answer is elusive.
What most people don't know is that honey bees are not "native" bees in most parts of the world. These hard working "domesticated" bees actually originated in Europe and have been transported around the world to help pollinate crops. Native bees are also available around the world, and are usually solitary little critters. They don't mass in hives -- so they haven't been good for honey production and not domesticated for pollination, either. But pollinate, they do! Most of nature relies on native bee pollination.
One of these native bees in the US is the Orchard Mason Bee.
Mason bee nesting blocks are available at Clean Air Gardening today for $19.99
Learn more about Orchard Mason Bees at the NCSU.edu website.
The Orchard Mason Bee is the common name of a nonsocial native bee
(Osmia lignaria ssp.) that pollinates our spring fruit trees, flowers
and vegetables. This gentle, blue-black metallic bee does not live in hives.
In nature it nests within hollow stems, woodpecker drillings and insect
holes found in trees or wood. Sometimes there may be dense collections
of individual nest holes, but these bees neither connect or share nests,
nor help provision or protect each others' young. Also, they are active
for only a short period of the year. 
They are not aggressive and one may observe them at very close range without fear of being stung, which makes them excellent for enhancing our yards and gardens. They add beauty, activity and pollination to our plantings. However, they do not produce honey.
The female Orchard Mason Bee visits flowers to collect pollen for its
young. She forms a small ball of pollen and nectar in the back of the nesting
tube and lays an egg on the ball. She then collects mud to form a cell
partition and repeats the pollen ball-egg laying process until she reaches
the mouth of the tube where she caps the end with mud.
Nest Block Construction
The native eastern species of Orchard Mason Bee will nest in holes drilled in a wooden block. Untreated 4" x 6" lumber works great. Holes can be drilled in the wood on 3/4 inch centers. They should be 4-8" deep (depending upon the size lumber used), smooth, and a 5/16" diameter hole is important. A smaller hole encourages higher production of male bees which reduces the reproductive potential of the population. Blocks may be drilled from either face giving shallower or deeper holes. Shallower holes may produce more male bees. Do not drill completely through the lumber. Drill the hole to a depth about 1/2 inch from the back of the block. Attach a roof to provide protection from the midday sun and rain. Outside surfaces may be painted or stained, but do not use wood preservatives. One hole may be drilled in the back to provide a means of hanging the block. Face nesting blocks as close to the southeast direction as possible to catch morning sun and affix it firmly so that it does not sway in the wind. It should be located at least three feet above the ground.
These bees need mud to construct cell partitions, so adding a mud supply may be helpful if needed. This can be a trench or tub located nearby where muddy soil is maintained during the nesting period. The mud should not be highly organic or sandy. Clay soils work well.
Do not move the blocks during the weeks of active nesting. Once all
nesting activity has stopped, the nesting block may be moved to a shelter
such as a shed or unheated garage. Be gentle when moving occupied
blocks at this time of year. This will give the bees added protection from
predators and parasites, yet will allow them exposure to the cold temperatures
that they need to break hibernation. If desired, bee emergence can be delayed
for a short period by refrigerating the block in the spring until you are
ready for the bees to emerge. Bees will need three days to warm up following
refrigeration.
Orchard Bees are sometimes reared in cardboard tubes, hollow reeds, or straws. Cardboard tubes and straws need more protection from weather and parasites. Paper straws allow better inspection and manipulation. Plastic straws hold moisture and allow mold to develop and are not recommended. Bees may also be purchased commercially.
You can be creative with your nesting blocks. Blocks can be made from any shape wood. They may be cut to a fancy shape, be a small piece of dead tree limb, fence post or scrap of firewood. You can vary the diameter of the drilled holes to attract different species of tube-nesting bees or nonsocial, beneficial wasps.
Your Local, Native Bees
Bee species vary by ecosystem and location. You can foster native bees that pollinate agricultural and wilderness plants by learning about your own local species and providing them with habitat. Habitat includes plants for foraging (for both food and nesting) and even houses to encourage their prolific reproduction to keep pace with the need in local agriculture.You can also help the native bee population by educating gardeners, lawn care professionals, farmers and homeowners about preventing unnecessary death of these bees with chemicals. Pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals kill beneficial insects as well as unwanted insects. By choosing to use Integrated Pest Management practices, we can foster beneficial insect populations, reduce toxins in our water and soil systems...and maintain the balance of species required to foster a thriving ecosystem.
You can help remodel your lawn and garden for natural habitat!
Your work can be in spurts..but very important!
