Nest blocks Phase 3

Nesting blocks

The MN Bee Atlas Bee Blocks project

The third phase of the bee blocks project will run from July 2025 to July 2028. We will be surveying tunnel nesting bees and wasps by sampling one individual from each nest, leaving the rest to finish their development, overwinter, and emerge in their environment. Using this new method will allow us to monitor these bees with less impact on local populations. We will need volunteers to host bee blocks in 2026.

Alongside the bee blocks project, we will have three other projects to learn about bee nesting. 

Ground nesting leafcutter bees: In this pilot project, we hope to learn about the leaves used by ground nesting leafcutter bees for the first time! We will try searching for bees at their leaf cutting locations, then identifying them with catch and release photography. This will be a fun opportunity for volunteers who want to do a deep dive with leafcutter bees.

Bee nesting in snags: We will learn about the natural nesting sites of wood-nesting bees and wasps by searching for bee nests in dead tree snags in Crow-Hassan Park Reserve. Volunteers will have the opportunity to help with formal surveys of insect tunnels in dead trees.

Resin bee nest microbiome: In this exciting project, we will describe the nest microbiome of resin bees, look for pathogens, and test the antimicrobial effect of different kinds of resins.