BEE NESTING AREA

Unlike the honeybee, which forms complex brood colonies, most wild bees nest solitarily. This means that each female builds her own nest, consisting of a small number of cells or brood chambers. In each of these, she lays an egg, along with a ball of pollen and nectar that will serve as food for the larva. A large proportion of the bee species in the Canary Islands It digs its nests in the ground, They typically nest in flat, compacted soil devoid of vegetation, or on vertical slopes. Other species place their nests in pre-existing cavities, such as galleries bored by wood-boring insects in tree trunks or pieces of wood, hollow branches and stems, or even cracks in rock walls. There are even some cuckoo bees that do not build nests, but take advantage of the work of other bees and lay their eggs in other bees' nests.

Therefore, to create suitable habitats for solitary bees in the garden, it is not enough to simply provide flowering plants not only provides food for them and their offspring, but it is also essential to provide them with suitable spaces in which to build their nests. For bees that nest on the ground, we provide areas clear of vegetation and with plenty of sunshine, while for species that nest in cavities, we install artificial nesting boxes, placing them in sunny areas facing south. Inside, we can place groups of small hollow reeds and wooden blocks drilled with holes of varying diameters (from 3 to 7 mm in diameter). 

In this nesting area, we can observe the comings and goings of a diverse group of busy bees, laden with provisions gathered from the flowers, as well as the process of building their nests. However, it is important to remember that this is a critical stage in their life cycle, and we should not cause them unnecessary disturbance so that we can continue to enjoy observing these incredible insects for a long time.

Canary Garden: Central Campus