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Backyard Pollinator Frequently Asked Questions
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DO LEAFCUTTER BEES MAKE HONEY?
Leafcutter bees are solely for pollination, there is no honey produced. Leafcutter bees are known to be very efficient pollinators for several reasons such as the way they carry pollen on the underside hairs of their bodies. They do mix pollen and nectar to make a paste which is a food source for their larvae.
DO LEAFCUTTER BEES STING?
Leafcutter bees are a solitary bee, there is no hive or queen for the bees to defend. They have the ability to both sting and bite but generally do so only if trapped beneath clothing. In a commercial setting millions of leafcutter bees are placed into our alfalfa fields with farmers wearing NO protective equipment at all. The sting from a leafcutter bees is only about 25% the severity of a honey bee and there are no known fatalities from allergies to leafcutter bee stings.
HOW MANY BEES ARE INSIDE THE BACKYARD POLLINATOR?
There are approximately 200 larvae inside each nesting block. Two-thirds of this number will be males and the other one-third are females.
HOW LONG DO LEAFCUTTER BEES TAKE TO HATCH?
When you receive a Backyard Pollinator the larvae are in dormancy. It takes approximately 23 days at 30C to hatch the bees, at a lower temperature it will take longer.
WHEN DO I PUT THE BACKYARD POLLINATOR OUTSIDE?
When daytime temperatures are consistently above 20C and nighttime temperatures are above freezing, place your Backyard Pollinator unit outside to hatch the bees.