You can't exactly "make" bees at home in the sense of creating them from scratch. However, you can build structures to attract and support solitary bees, helping them thrive in your backyard. These are often called bee houses or bee hotels.
Here's how to build a simple bee house:
1. Gather Your Materials
- A Wooden Box: This forms the structure of your bee house. Recycled or waste wood is ideal and cost-effective. An old birdhouse (without the perch) also works great.
- Drill: To create the nesting holes.
- Drill Bits: Varying sizes (typically between 3mm and 10mm) to cater to different bee species.
- Blocks of Wood or Small Logs: These will be drilled with holes to create nesting tunnels. You can also use sturdy cardboard tubes, bamboo canes, or even paper straws.
- Saw (optional): To cut wood or logs to the correct size.
- Sandpaper (optional): To smooth any rough edges of the holes.
2. Construct the Bee House
- Build or repurpose the box: The box should be open on one side, allowing bees easy access.
- Add a sloping roof: A sloping roof helps deflect rain and protect the nesting tunnels from moisture.
- Cut and prepare your nesting materials: Cut wood blocks or logs to fit snugly inside the box. Alternatively, bundle together bamboo canes, cardboard tubes, or paper straws, cutting them to a similar length as the depth of your box.
3. Drill the Nesting Holes
- Drill holes in the wood blocks or logs: The holes should be drilled to a depth of at least 10cm (4 inches) but ideally deeper. Leave a closed end to each hole. Vary the hole sizes to attract a greater variety of solitary bee species.
- Smooth the edges: Use sandpaper to remove any splinters or rough edges around the entrance to the holes. This prevents bees from damaging their wings.
4. Assemble the Bee House
- Fill the box: Pack the drilled wood blocks, logs, or bundled tubes tightly into the box. You want to prevent them from moving around.
- Secure the materials: You may need to use small nails, screws, or glue to secure the nesting materials within the box, depending on the materials you use.
5. Position the Bee House
- Choose a sunny spot: Locate the bee house in a sunny, sheltered location, ideally facing south or southeast.
- Attach to a wall or fence: Fix the bee house securely to a fence, wall, or post at least 1 meter (3 feet) above ground level.
- Provide a source of pollen and nectar: Plant bee-friendly flowers nearby to provide a food source for the bees.
Important Considerations
- Avoid using treated wood: Treated wood can be harmful to bees.
- Clean the bee house periodically: After a few years, the nesting tubes may become filled with debris or parasites. Replace or clean the nesting materials every couple of years to keep the bee house healthy.
- Be patient: It may take some time for bees to discover and move into your bee house.
By following these steps, you can create a welcoming habitat for solitary bees in your garden and contribute to their conservation. You are not "making" the bees, but rather creating a safe and attractive nesting site for them.
