BeeGAP Leafcutter BeeHome User manual

Leafcutter
Bee
House
Please read these instructions
carefully prior to installing your
BeeHome in the garden.
About your BeeHome
This year BeeGAP is providing
each Leafcutter BeeHome with
seasoned and reusable wooden
leafcutter bee nesting trays.
These nesting trays have been
used in our commercial leafcutter
bee breeding programme and
coated with important leafcutter
bee pheromones.
The presence of these pheromones
on the nesting trays will provide
you the greatest possible success
when raising your own leafcutter
bees this seasons.
Once your leafcutter bees start to
emerge from their cocoons this
season, they will begin looking for
attractive nesting sites - and this is
where your seasoned nesting trays
become valuable.
The bees will be more attracted to
locations where previous nesting
activity has already occurred.
Positioning your BeeHome
Ideally you should look to position
your BeeHome somewhere you can
sit back, relax and enjoy the activity
of the bees once nesting activities
begin.
Position your BeeHome to receive a
good amount of morning sunshine.
Early morning sun is important, as
this helps to warm the bees up and
assists them to become more active
and productive earlier in the day.
If possible, position in a sheltered
location away from strong prevailing
winds.
A good height to position the
BeeHome is around 1-2 meters off
the ground. This height is great for
viewing and checking on activity.
If you live in an area with extreme
heat or dry spells, consider placing
the BeeHome somewhere that gets
shade as midday approaches to
avoid the bees from overheating.

Things to avoid
Avoid positioning your BeeHome in
a location that:
●Is prone to driving rain
●Will be hit by irrigation
●Above 2 meters high
●On the ground
●Is likely to overheat
●That receive NO sun
●Is near chemical sprays
●Cannot be easily viewed
●Doesn’t get morning sun
Positioning your BeeHome near
bird feeders is also not suggested
as emerging leafcutter bees will
become an attractive meal for
nearby birds.
More articles on your leafcutter
BeeHome can be found on our
websites “Learn” section here:
https://beegap.co.nz/learn
About Seasoned Nesting Trays
Seasoned nesting trays have
pheromones remaining within the
nesting tunnels of the wooden
nesting trays that the female
leafcutter bees would have secreted
during a previous year's breeding
season. This makes these nesting
trays highly valuable and a highly
attractive nesting option for future
generations of leafcutter bees.
You have two ends to your
seasoned leafcutter nesting trays.
One end has been lightly finished,
and the other has the helpful
markings from BeeGAP’s own
breeding programme. Feel free to
position the trays either way round.
Important Note:
It is important never to wash these
trays or use any type of detergents
or chemical on them. A gentle dry
brush is fine to remove any debris
or used leaf matter from a previous
leafcutter bee breeding season.
Hanging your BeeHome
Your BeeHome has been
assembled to include a handy
hanging hook on the rear of the
product. This allows you to easily
hang the BeeHome on an existing
or new screw or nail (not included).
Once you’ve positioned your
BeeHome in your desired location,
ensure the nesting trays are firmly
pressed towards the back of the
BeeHome and the rubber band
remains around them - keeping
them securely together throughout
the leafcutter bee breeding season.
Note:
Ensure the fixing your BeeHome is
attached to is secure as the
BeeHome is not designed to be
dropped from a height.
For more information visit:
https://beegap.co.nz