First female red mason bee of the year

Lord Vetinari

Was lucky enough to hear and then see the first female red mason bee emerging from my bee hotel. The males emerged a couple of weeks before this and hang around waiting for this event. The female was the instantly grabbed by a male and mating ensued.

Brian V.

Paul Iddon

Great series Brian.

Paul.

Lord Vetinari

@Paul Iddon said:
Great series Brian.

Paul.

Thanks Paul.
Good to hear from you.

Brian V.

torags

great series indeed...

Are there other females in the hive & do they all get impregnated?

Lord Vetinari

@torags said:
great series indeed...

Are there other females in the hive & do they all get impregnated?

Thanks Rags
Technically these are a solitary species so they do not live in a hive. The Hotel is a series of bamboo tubes where the females lay their eggs with some food provisions and then die. The next year the males emerge first and then the females a few weeks later. The females get impregnated in most cases straight away. The males die off and the females start the cycle over again.

Brian V.

torags

Thanks... I learned something today... a good start...