Solitary bees currently face a lot of habitat loss due to various human activities. Solitary bee houses, which are small man-made habitats for solitary bees, can help remedy these problems by giving more places for bees to stay within our communities. Solitary bee houses can come in many shapes and sizes, but they mainly provide nesting cavities that cavity-nesting bees like mason and leaf-cutter bees can use. Hosting these bee houses is a great way to help solitary bees in your area.
Whether you choose to build your own bee house or buy an already existing one, here are some things to look for that are essential for bee houses:
Attach bee houses 3-6' off the ground onto a solid surface like a post, wall, or tree. Make sure it doesn't swing freely - this will lead it to sway in the wind, which the bees won't like. If possible, place it facing South to keep the bees warm with maximal sunlight. Try to place near flowers; this will attract bees and provide them with a nearby food source, as they usually only travel around 200-300 yards for food.
Every 2-3 years, the bee houses will need cleaning to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites. Do this in the spring after the bees have emerged. Use a brush or pipe cleaner to clean out debris, and rinse the cavities with warm (non-soapy!) water and let dry completely. Alternatively, you can replace the nesting material with new ones as well.