Managed Bees
The managed bees in Oregon go beyond honey bees. Beginning in the 1950s alfalfa seed growers in the Pacific Northwest, in conjunction with Oregon State University, began developing nesting beds for the solitary native alkali bee (Nomia melanderi). These remarkable bees remain the only managed ground nesting bee in the world. In addition, by the 1960s these same growers also learned how to manage a solitary twig-nesting bee, the alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata), on a large scale. Combined, these two solitary species power the state’s alfalfa seed sector. More recently, Oregon cherry and pear growers have been learning to manage a native solitary twig nesting bee, the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria). Cavity nesting blue orchard bees have also proven a terrific species for backyard and community gardens. In response, Oregon Master Gardeners and some Soil and Water Conservation districts have been active in training homeowners to care for and propagate these bees.
Alfalfa leafcutting bees
Alfalfa leafcutter bee management in Western Canada Agriculture Canada Publication (1972)
Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Incubation Calendar 2017 D.W. Goerzen, Research Scientist
Chalkbrood Control in Alfalfa Leafcutting Bees Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (apr. 1994)
Management of the Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee: In Northwestern Canada Agriculture Canada (n.d.)
Stored Product Pests in Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Populations Sask Leafcutters Association (Sep. 2002)
Fall and Winter Management of Alfalfa Leafcutting Bees D.W. Goerzen, Research Scientist (2016)
Chalkbrood Disease in Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Populations Sask Leafcutters Association (Sep. 2002)
Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Incubation Calendar D.W. Goerzen, Research Scientist (2017)
Alkali bees
Alkali Bees vs. Drainage Utah State University (1995)
Management of Alkali Bees for Alfalfa Seed Production Washington State University (Dec. 1971)
Maintaining Alkali Bees for Alfalfa Seed Production OSU (Jan. 1959)
Bee Hotels
Native Bees, Solitary Bees, and Wild Bees: What are they? University of Minnesota (n.d.)
Building and Managing bee Hotels for Wild Bees Michigan State University (Jun. 2017)