Solitary spring mason bees and summer leafcutter bees are proven to be highly-efficient pollinators of many Midwestern farm crops, but they are generally overlooked in favor of the well-known honey bee. Crown Bees is working to change that.
By teaching local farmers to incorporate these native bees into their pollination plans, either in place of - or in addition to - honey bees, we hope to boost your crop yields and increase the local populations of beneficial pollinators.
Why are solitary bees such a great addition to your farm or orchard?
By teaching local farmers to incorporate these native bees into their pollination plans, either in place of - or in addition to - honey bees, we hope to boost your crop yields and increase the local populations of beneficial pollinators.
Why are solitary bees such a great addition to your farm or orchard?
- They have a limited range (approx. 300 feet) which means they stay on your farm to pollinate your crops and don't bring back pesticide residue from other farms.
- They carry pollen dry on their hairy bellies and visit more blooms. This means pollen falls off at every stop which results in increased pollination.
- They are not social bees, so they don't swarm, are not aggressive, and rarely sting. Each pollinator is a single mom just looking to provision her nest.
- Because they don't make honey, they require very little equipment or maintenance. And our new rental program has reduced that maintenance time to just a couple of hours per year.
- They are native to your region and are adapted to your crops and climate.
