The development time for Summer Leaf bees is temperature-dependent. Since climate varies widely across North America, this calendar breaks down Summer Leaf bee raising tasks by season (and temperatures) to ensure this guide is helpful no matter where you live!
Late Spring, Early SummerInspect and take inventory of your 6mm nesting materials. Under suitable conditions, female Summer Leaf bees can fill two to four nesting cavities in a single summer. We recommend at least two nesting cavities for each female you'd like to support. You can use the same bee house for Summer Leaf bees that you did for spring Mason bees. However, you should remove Mason bee nesting materials and clean out any debris or pests before placing new Summer Leaf nesting materials in the house.
If you purchase Summer Leaf bees from us, you'll receive around 200 cocoons per order sent directly from Crown Bees, who will happily answer any questions you have through their online customer service. They send more than you'll need because Summer Leaf bees have a higher dispersal rate than Mason bees. Don't expect all 200 to stick around. That's the nature of nature! Even with many flying off in search of another nesting site, you'll still have plenty to pollinate your yard and garden!
Summer
When blossoms are open, and daytime temperatures reach a consistent 75°F (24°C), it's time to release your Summer Leaf cocoons. Unlike Mason bees, you cannot store Summer Leaf bees in the refrigerator until the temperatures are just right. If you are new to bee raising, select a shipping date as close as possible to when you would like the Summer Leaf bees to begin pollinating. Bees will arrive about ready to emerge and fly!
Intact cocoons can't regulate their temperatures, so if temperatures are above 90°F (32°C), you may consider allowing the cocoons to emerge indoors (in a breathable bag like Crown Bees' BeeGuard Bag) and release them in the early morning hours as they emerge.
Fall, Winter, Early Spring
When temperatures cool to 60°F (15°C), females will have completed their nesting for the season. Gently remove the nesting materials from the bee house and store them in a Crown Bees BeeGuard Bag or another tightly woven yet breathable mesh bag, with the leaf-capped end facing up. Summer Leaf bees hibernate as delicate larvae inside their leafy cocoons over the fall and winter. The bag protects developing bees from pests and parasites.
The storage area should mimic nature's temperatures and always be kept in an area that is neither heated nor airconditioned such as a garage, shed, or overhang. If you don't have such a space, they can remain outside but protect them from rain, snow, and predators.
Early Spring
If you have filled Summer Leaf nests from the previous year, you can harvest the cocoons in early spring. Harvesting cocoons is the best way to prevent the spread of disease and reduce pest populations. If you also raise Mason bees, a good time to harvest Summer Leaf cocoons is when you release your Mason bee cocoons in the spring.
Because the development of Summer Leaf bees is temperature-dependent, they'll need to be incubated in the spring to help them fully form into adult bees and emerge. If you incubate your own harvested cocoons, plan to time their emergence with your summer weather and open blooms.
