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Dutch Growers Leafcutter Bees

$34.99
In stock online
  • These gentle, solitary bees are the perfect pollinators for any plant, especially all your summer fruits and flowers!
  • Live insects are only available for curbside pickup at our location or delivery within Saskatoon & area.

    Live insects cannot be shipped outside of Saskatoon & area safely due to unregulated temperatures in the transportation methods used by shipping companies.

    If you have requested curbside pickup, you will receive a secondary email notifying you when your order is ready to be picked up.

    Please pick up your order within 48 hours of being notified that it is ready for pickup!

     

    Megachile spp.
    Leafcutter bees, leafcutting bees

     

    Although they are solitary, ten leafcutter bees can pollinate an entire apple tree, compared to the 350 honey bees it would take to pollinate the same tree! Get started easily with a bee house to protect your new pollinator friends.

    Leafcutter Bees:

    Specs

    Quantity
    • There are approximately 200 bees per pack!

    Instructions

    Dormancy
    • Leafcutter bees need to be refrigerated to stay dormant!

    Incubation

    • Place the bag of unincubated leafcutter cocoons in a warm location (indoors or outdoors) out of direct sunlight to promote bee development. Summer leafcutter bees overwinter as larva and require warm temperatures to resume the development process. At a consistent temperature of 84°F (35°C); and humidity ranging between 40% and 90%, it should take approximately 23 days for bees to begin emerging. At a consistent temperature of 70°F (21°C), this time may extend to 4-6 weeks.

    Placement

    • When you first see a bee emerge within the bag, it is time to place the cocoons in your bee house. Standing in front of the bee house, open the bag and place the open bag on top of, or behind your nesting holes, with the open end of the bag facing out or up and shaded from direct sunlight. If your bee house has an attic area, the open bag of cocoons can be placed in the attic space. Do not subject the cocoons to direct sunlight. These bees require mid to high (70°F/21°C) daytime temperatures to fly, but perform best in 80°F (31°C) or higher temperatures. Open blossoms are also essential as they need pollen sources.
    • During the incubation process, you may notice tiny black bugs with a long body inside the bag. These may be Pteromalus (pteromalid wasp) or Monodontomerus (parasitic wasp) - natural predators. They most likely hatched from larvae that were infused into the leafcutter larvae. A few of these pesky and destructive critters emerging from your leafcutter cocoons is considered normal. Simply 'squish' any pests that you notice.

    Info

    How do leafcutter bees help your garden?
    • These gentle, solitary bees are the perfect pollinators for any plant, especially all your summer fruits and flowers!
    • Unlikely to sting or bite, leafcutter bees diligently gather bits of leaves and petals to create a nursery for their little larvae, all the while accumulating pollen on the underside of their abdomen and pollinating your garden in the process!

     

    To Note: Leafcutter bees will cut neat circles out of non-fibrous leaves. To have holes in your rose leaves shows that you have a healthy yard! Make sure your neighbours are aware of their habits as well. You don't want your neighbour spraying unnecessarily and causing harm to your bees!

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