Honey bees and hole-nesting bees living together
Can mason bees and leafcutter bees live with honey bees?
Honey bees and hole-nesting bees can live in harmony together and while they do not attack each other, they are both competing for the same flowers.
A biodiverse environment rich with a variety of flowers is the best habitat for bees.
Recent research is showing that a high density of honey bees will cause stress on the local native bee population. Honey bees fly long distances in their daily search for pollen and nectar and are efficient, meticulous pollen carriers.
Many native bee species are only able to fly short distances daily and native bees are excellent local pollen spreaders. Native bees with short flying ranges will either starve or nest in another location when honey bees are introduced.
Science has also shown that the addition of hole-nesting bee species like mason bees will cause honey bees to work faster and less meticulously, making honey bees better at pollination.
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