This cache is dedicated to the less-flashy of the pollinators - solitary bees! Solitary bees, including carpenter, leaf-cutter, digger, sweat, mason, and long-horned bees play an important role in pollination of native plants. You can help these bees by creating habitat for them to use for nests. Read on below to learn more about creating a bee-friendly yard.
Geo-friendly residents. Say hi if you see anyone!
Watch for muggles - this is a busy area on weekdays in early morning and mid-afternoon due to UA employees that park on the street.
Large enough for trackables.
The Sonoran Desert region has hundreds of species of solitary bees. These bees are docile and present no danger to humans or pets. According to the Arizon-Sonora Desert Museum, of the 640 flowering plant taxa in the area, 80% are pollinated by bees. Also, 30% of our agricultural crops require bees for pollination.
Solitary bees typically build nests in the ground or in soft wood such as dried stalks of desert spoon, agave, and yucca. Most people clear out this kind of habitat around their homes. The best thing you can do for bees is to keep at least some of your yard messy! Leaves, stems, and branches left on the ground will probide habitat for bees.
While the cache container is not a real bee house, the other structures in this garden are some examples of homes or "bee hotels" you can offer solitary bees where you live.
You can place dried agave, desert spoon (sotol) or yucca stalks around your yard to provide habitat for nesting.
You can also purchase different styles of bee houses like the one hanging on the cholla branch, or make your own. Some great resources on creating bee houses including the Tucson Audubon Society and this blog by Coline Purrington. Crown Bees is a great source for purchasing bee houses.
Bee kind to bees!