Beyond the Beehive

The city of Edmonton, Canada, has gone through a building boom. In one summer, it added more than 500 hotels. But these aren’t hotels where you might stay with your family on vacation. These hotels were built just for bees!

Bees are important little insects. They play a big role in helping many of our fruit and vegetable crops grow. When you hear the word bee, you probably picture honeybees or bumblebees. These bees live in large groups and build hives.

There’s been a building boom in Edmonton, Canada. The city added more than 500 hotels in one summer. But these aren’t your usual hotels. You wouldn’t be able to stay in one with your family on vacation. These hotels were built just for bees!

Bees are important little insects. They play a big role in farming. They help many of our fruit and vegetable crops grow. When you hear the word bee, what do you picture? You probably think of honeybees or bumblebees. Those bees live in large groups and build hives.

But did you know most bees don’t live in hives? These wild bees live alone and lay their eggs in tunnels or other small spaces. Unfortunately, in recent years wild bees have been struggling to find safe places to nest.

A group in western Canada called Edmonton and Area Land Trust (EALT) is trying to help. Workers there are teaching people how to build bee hotels. These structures provide safe spots for wild bees to lay eggs. Scientists hope the hotels, along with other efforts, will help the bees thrive.

But did you know most bees don’t live in hives? They live alone, and they’re known as wild bees. They lay their eggs in tunnels or other small spaces. Unfortunately, in recent years wild bees have been struggling. They can’t find safe places to nest.

A group in western Canada is trying to help. It’s called Edmonton and Area Land Trust (EALT). Its workers are teaching people how to build bee hotels. These structures provide safe spots for wild bees to lay eggs. Scientists hope these and other efforts will help wild bees thrive.  

As spring arrives, you may spot bees busily buzzing from flower to flower. They’re sipping a sweet liquid called nectar. But they’re doing something else too—helping plants reproduce.

Bees are pollinators. When a bee lands on a flower, tiny grains called pollen stick to its body. Pollen contains the plant’s reproductive material. The bee transfers the pollen to the next flower it visits, causing the flower to produce seeds (see Pollinating Plants).

Most fruits and vegetables with seeds need pollinators, says Kelsey Graham. She’s an ecologist at Michigan State University. Many other insects, like butterflies, also pollinate plants. But bees are among the most effective pollinators. Some farmers even pay beekeepers to deliver bees to their crops.

You may spot bees busily buzzing as spring arrives. They fly from flower to flower. They’re sipping a sweet liquid called nectar. But they’re doing something else too. They’re helping plants reproduce.

Bees are pollinators. When a bee lands on a flower, tiny grains called pollen stick to its body. Pollen contains the plant’s reproductive material. The bee transfers the pollen to the next flower it visits. That causes the flower to produce seeds (see Pollinating Plants).

Most fruits and vegetables with seeds need pollinators, says Kelsey Graham. She’s an ecologist. She works at Michigan State University. Many other insects, like butterflies, also pollinate plants. But bees are among the best at this job. Some farmers even pay beekeepers to deliver bees to their crops.

About 90 percent of bees in North America live in places other than hives. Some of these wild bees lay eggs in the ground. Others nest in reeds or in tunnels made by beetles. “Bees are pretty much everywhere,” says Graham.

In recent years, Graham has noticed that some wild bee species are becoming harder to find in Michigan. Scientists in other parts of the world have also seen bee numbers decline.

About 90 percent of bees in North America live in places other than hives. Some of these wild bees lay eggs in the ground. Others do the same in reeds. Still others nest in tunnels made by beetles. “Bees are pretty much everywhere,” says Graham.

Graham has noticed something in recent years. It’s become harder to find certain wild bee species in Michigan. Scientists have noticed the same thing in other parts of the world. They’ve also seen bee numbers decline.

There are many reasons why bees are struggling. Pesticides used on farms can harm bees. Diseases and parasites have also hurt bee populations. 

But one of the biggest threats to bees is the loss of  habitat, such as forests and fields. “If you’re turning fields into parking lots, it’s a lot harder for bees to make their homes,” says Graham.

There are many reasons why bees are struggling. Pesticides used on farms can harm bees. Diseases and parasites have also hurt bee populations.

But one of the biggest threats to bees is the loss of habitat. Many bees live in forests and fields. “If you’re turning fields into parking lots, it’s a lot harder for bees to make their homes,” says Graham. 

Since 2016, EALT has been teaching people why wild bees are important—and how to build bee hotels. The structures are called hotels because bees don’t stay in them for long. Females lay eggs there in the late summer and early fall, then they leave. By spring, the young bees hatch and fly away.

It’s easy to make a bee hotel, says Stephanie Weizenbach, a coordinator at EALT. A bee hotel needs tunnels, such as straws, where bees can lay eggs. The tunnels need to be contained in some kind of frame. “We’ve had groups make hotels from milk cartons,” says Weizenbach.  

EALT has been teaching about the importance of wild bees since 2016. The group also shows people how to build bee hotels. There’s a reason the structures are called hotels. That’s because bees don’t stay in them for long. Females lay eggs there in the late summer and early fall. Then they leave. The young bees hatch and fly away by spring.  

It’s easy to make a bee hotel, says Stephanie Weizenbach. She’s a coordinator at EALT. A bee hotel needs tunnels, such as straws. That’s where bees can lay eggs. The tunnels need to be contained in some kind of frame. “We’ve had groups make hotels from milk cartons,” says Weizenbach.

Bee hotels work best in sunny areas that are up off the ground. Once a bee hotel is in a good spot, it’s time to wait for the bees! (Don’t worry—wild bees rarely sting because they don’t have hives to protect.)

Bee hotels are popping up around the world, from Canada to Australia. But they’re not the only way to help bees. You can plant flowers that provide food for pollinators. People can also stop using harmful pesticides.

So far, bees in Edmonton have been using the hotels. “It’s so much fun to watch when the hotels get filled with eggs,” says Weizenbach.

Bee hotels work best in sunny areas. They should also be up off the ground. People just need to find a good spot to place a bee hotel. Then it’s time to wait for the bees! (Don’t worry. Wild bees rarely sting. That’s because they don’t have hives to protect.)

Bee hotels are popping up around the world, from Canada to Australia. But they’re not the only way to help bees. You can also plant flowers. They provide food for pollinators. People can stop using harmful pesticides too.

So far, bees in Edmonton have been using the hotels. “It’s so much fun to watch when the hotels get filled with eggs,” says Weizenbach.