A bee house provides habitat for solitary, non-stinging native bees, such as mason bees and leafcutter bees. Unlike honeybees, these species do not live in colonies but build individual nests within small cavities or tunnels. Successful colonization depends almost entirely on placement, which must meet the precise thermal, moisture, and resource needs of these pollinators. Correct placement protects the developing young from environmental damage and ensures adult bees can efficiently forage and reproduce.
Essential Environmental Factors
The thermal regulation of a bee house is paramount for the health of developing larvae, making sunlight exposure a primary consideration. Solitary bees are cold-blooded and require warmth to become active for foraging early in the morning. Positioning the house to receive direct morning sun allows the bees to warm up quickly, encouraging them to begin their daily pollination work sooner.
Intense midday or afternoon heat can be detrimental, potentially overheating the developing brood. The house must be protected by shade during the hottest part of the afternoon, ideally using a natural or structural overhead eave. Protection from moisture is equally important, as damp conditions can lead to mold and the demise of bee larvae.
The house should be protected from direct rainfall and splash-back from irrigation or ground moisture. If the house is not naturally sheltered, a roof overhang of at least two to three inches provides sufficient protection. Furthermore, the house should be mounted in a location that avoids strong, consistent wind, as gusty conditions make it difficult for the small bees to fly and land safely at the nest entrance.
Mounting Guidelines and Optimal Orientation
Once a macro-environmental location is selected, the physical mounting requires specific attention to orientation and stability. The most effective orientation for maximizing morning warmth is facing the house toward the southeast or due east. This positioning captures the gentle, warming rays of the sunrise, which is necessary for the bees to raise their body temperature and become flight-ready.
The structure must be mounted firmly to a solid, non-moving surface, such as a sturdy fence post, shed wall, or tree trunk. Any swaying or movement caused by wind or accidental bumps can disorient the bees, potentially causing them to abandon the nesting site.
A mounting height between four and seven feet off the ground is considered ideal. This height helps deter ground-level predators and prevents rain splash-back from the ground. Positioning the house at roughly eye level also simplifies annual maintenance and allows for easier observation of bee activity.
Landscape Proximity and Predator Deterrence
The bee house should be situated within close proximity to the necessary foraging and building materials. Adult solitary bees typically forage for pollen and nectar within a short range, often less than 300 feet of the nest. Therefore, the location must feature blooming plants that provide a consistent food supply throughout the nesting season.
For mason bees, access to clay-rich mud is required, as females use it to seal individual egg chambers and cap the nest tunnel. This mud source should be maintained within 10 to 50 feet of the house and be of a workable consistency, similar to modeling clay. Leafcutter bees require soft leaf material from non-fibrous plants to construct their nest cells.
To protect the developing brood, placement should actively deter common predators. Avoid mounting the bee house near bird feeders, which can attract woodpeckers that attempt to pull out nesting tubes. Ants are a frequent pest, so applying a sticky barrier substance like Tanglefoot or petroleum jelly to the mounting post prevents them from climbing up to the nest.