Roots and Shoots
Spring 09
Some updates on invertebrate activity in the garden for this spring
The solitary bee activity has been much better this year than last (springs 2007 and 2008 were both poor). There were very few completed mason bee nests in the garden from last spring so I was worried that this year might be poor also. However, it's been ok so far and the females that have been building have done well and there are a good number of completed nests now. The whole season started reasonably well with Andrena haemorhoa nesting on the flat rubble roof ('brown roof'). I improved this roof last autumn with the help of Dusty Gedge (www.livingroofs.org.uk) and Gyongyver Kadas, introducing mounds of mixed coarse/fine gravel (recycled brick and concrete with crushed grit - a good mix) to give mining bees and digger wasps a better habitat this spring. Although the roof has been installed for three years this is the first undisturbed spring - the flat roof leaked after 18 months and had to be stripped and replaced. The bees approved and moved in and have been working on it since mid March. A cuckoo bee - Nomada fabriciana - a species we have never had before - also found it worthwhile moving in to parasitise the mining bee (1st May). Looking forward, perhaps to an 'exotic' species or two using it later in June/July. Even earlier than the Andrena were the Hairy-footed flower bees, who began emerging as usual around 14th March (coinciding with the Annual Spring Conference of the Central Association of Beekeepers) - along with the first Comma butterfly. The males of solitary bees almost always emerge first and hang around for females. The females of the flower bee - Anthophora plumipes - are cute, medium sized all-black, rounded bees a bit like a small bumble bee. They have a distinct and purposeful flight pattern and started flying and building around 18th March. They had a good season this year and the last were seen looking a bit tatty in mid May. (I also saw a female at Red Cross Garden in Bankside whilst delivering some training for BOST volunteers on 24th May.)
The leaf-cutter bee species emerged w/b 18 May and started building (a little earlier than previous years).
The honey bees are also a bit stronger this year. We had a big training day for new (and old) beekeepers on new techniques for controlling varroa on Sunday 10 May. Over 50 people in the garden in two groups around hives. Bees everywhere and we brought in two extra hives from Clive's allotment to cope.
The leaf-cutter bee species emerged w/b 18 May and started building (a little earlier than previous years).
The honey bees are also a bit stronger this year. We had a big training day for new (and old) beekeepers on new techniques for controlling varroa on Sunday 10 May. Over 50 people in the garden in two groups around hives. Bees everywhere and we brought in two extra hives from Clive's allotment to cope.