Gearing Up for Bee Season: Excitement in the Field!
As spring progresses, so does our fieldwork season, and we were all excited to be outdoors, ready to set up for our flight cage experiment. This year, the focus is on understanding how nesting temperatures affect the foraging behaviour and offspring outcomes of Osmia bicornis, a topic that’s buzzing with importance in the context of changing climates. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of preparations, but seeing our field site take shape has been rewarding.
Our first task was setting up the metal fruit cages that will support the netted insect cages, and also marking out the plots. It was important to ensure these were installed correctly to provide maximum stability. It was great to see these finally up in the field. Planting of our chosen host plants was carried out in their respective plots.
We then installed solar panels and batteries to run the nest heaters and attached the bespoke insect nets to the metal cages. We also mounted the bee nests on wooden stakes, carefully arranging them to be orientated correctly and uniformly. Other auxiliary equipment was installed, and the site is looking great.
With the site prepared, we wait patiently for the moment when we release the bee cocoons into the cages. In previous years, watching them emerge, stretch their wings, and begin exploring their new environment has been a sight to behold.
In the weeks after that, the bees will hopefully start foraging on the nectar and pollen in the cages and building their nests with mud. It’s an exciting time for us, as each day in the field brings new insights into the behaviour of these wonderful pollinators. Stay tuned for updates as our bees get busy!