Download and use of images from this site is a violation of copyright law and legal action will be pursued, unless permission has been granted by the author.
This post was originally published on April 19, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online).
Leave those sticks
Many native bees and other beneficial insects (like wasps and beetles) nest in stems and fallen wood. If you have large trees on your property, consider leaving their fallen stems for pollinators! If you’re the type who likes to gather sticks and branches and remove them from your yard, consider piling them in an out-of-the-way location. Or, you could tie them in neat bundles like I did with the bamboo stems in the featured image. Not only will this provide habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, but it could also create nesting sites for birds and other native wildlife!
Here are just some stem-nesting pollinators that you could be helping:
- Blue orchard bees (Osmia)
- Leaf-cutter bees (Megachile)
- Mason bees (Hoplitis)
- Carpenter bees (Xylocopa)
Do you provide piles of sticks for pollinators? Tell us about it in the comments below!
| Download and use of images from this site is a violation of copyright law and legal action will be pursued, unless permission has been granted by the author. All images are copyright Athena Rayne Anderson unless otherwise stated. |
Athena Rayne Anderson 
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