Lifespan of a solitary bee
How long do solitary bees live?
Male and female bees have different lifespans and the bees actually spend most of their life developing or hibernating in their cocoons.
- Male mason and leafcutter bees will fly as adults for about 2 weeks after emergence.
- Female mason and leafcutter bees will fly as adults for about 4-6 weeks after emergence.
Stagger the release of your bee cocoons to extend your spring pollination season. For example, set out half of your mason bee cocoons in late March and the other half in late April. To stagger the release of leafcutter bee cocoons (who can't be held in the fridge), order a second set of leafcutter bee cocoons to be delivered 3 weeks after the first order.
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