Solitary Bee Hotels

Do you need to replace the tubes?

Yes you do!!

If you have a solitary bee hotel similar to the photo below then you’ll need to replace the bamboo tubes each year, ideally early spring.

The tubes are a breeding ground for pests and disease, so it’s important to change or clean them each year.

Solitary bees will lay their eggs and cap the holes with grass, wax or mud in late summer to early autumn. Over the winter, they hibernate as pupa and then hatch in the spring.

If your tubes are still blocked, you know that there are bees in your bamboo nesting tubes.

By using a small pipe cleaner or paintbrush you can clean out the bamboo tubes or replace with new ones. If replacing the tubes need to be about 10mm in diameter.

During winter you can help them further to survive by placing the tubes in an outbuilding in a cardboard box with an open window, to ensure they don’t freeze.

Best wishes with your bee hotels and watch out to see them make their nests in the summer!