January ...
... featured the Bumble Bee, genus Bombus. Queens emerge in early Spring followed by female workers in late Spring, and finally males.
Bumble bees are ground nesting bees.
Bumble bees are large fuzzy bees usually black with varying patterns of yellow, red or light colored bands. Queens are much larger - over an inch - than female workers or males. Female workers carry pollen in a fringe of stiff hairs in their hind legs also referred to as a 'pollen basket.' Noted to 'buzz pollinate' tomato blossoms, increasing the size and yield of fruit. (I can vouch for this!)
Tomato yield from last summer ... a mix of heirlooms and 'Sweetie' and yellow cherries.
My tomatoes were abuzz with bumble bees all summer!
You might find bumble bees in your garden if you grow the following: beardtongue, california poppy (I almost wrote poopy - ha!), lavendar, rosemary, or fleabane.
February ...
... featured the Mining Bee, genus Andrena. They also emerge in early Spring and are also ground nesting bees.
Mining bees are mostly dark green or black with elongated abdomens. They carry pollen in the hairs of their behind legs. These pollen-coated hairs appear to be purple or blue (cool). Many Andrena species are oilgoletic (BIG word meaning) - collecting pollen only from a limited range or single genus of plants.
You might find mining bees in your garden if you grow the following: phacelia, gilia, california poppy, suncup.
March ...
... features the Mason Bee, genus Osmia. Mason bees emerge in Spring to early summer. They nest in pre-existing holes in wood constructed with mud or leaves. You can buy mason bee homes (or make your own) to encourage them to nest in your garden, or even buy existing nests to emerge in your garden come Spring!
Example of Mason bee house offered from the Backyard Bird Company.
Photo from Backyard Bird Company.
Mason bees are small to medium sized displaying metallic or iridescent coloring from green to dark blue. They are much more efficient pollinators than honey bees. Just 250 Orchard Mason bees are needed to pollinate an acre of apple trees that would require 20,000 honeybees!
You might find mason/orchard bees in your garden if you grow the following: catnip, sage, phacelia, gilia, and orchard fruit trees like cherry, apple and pear.
This is a wonderful calendar with fabulous photos and I've quoted from it quite a bit (without permission but figure I am promoting their cause). If another is offered next year be sure to pick it up - not only will you "bee" helping the cause for bees, but there is much to learn! If you plant a pollinator garden (see my last post), "bee" sure (okay, I can't help myself!), to watch for these native bees and more. Not only do they like native plant sources but many varieties of herbs as well. Stay tuned for the next bee of the month!
