Habitat for Solitary Bee

Habitat for Solitary Bee

Liliana Tovar
Nerea Feliz Studio

Drawing inspiration from leaves, this design on this habitat reflects irregular geometries in nature. The nesting cavities in this habitat include diameters of ⅛", ¼", and ⅜", perfect for solitary bees.

Meet the Pollinator

• Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)

  Learn more about the unique lifestyle of the Eastern carpenter bee. Voiced by Kit Schneider.

  Transcript ›

  I am an Eastern carpenter bee. I only have a little bit of time to talk, so I’ll try to make this quick!

  I look a bit like a bumble bee, but our lifestyles are very different. I live with my family inside a hunk of wood. I started my nest by chewing a hole into the cleanest, straightest piece of cedar wood I could find.

  Using my powerful mandibles, I can dig about one inch of tunnel per day. My offspring live in one tunnel, my food goes in another, and I have other tunnels for the female bees who are here helping me out. When I’m not digging, I collect pollen from many different crops and flowers to feed everyone.

  My two years of life have been tough. But my little nest has grown large, and I did my best to make it as cozy as possible.

  Okay––gotta go! Bye!

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