Females begin bringing leaf material within the first week of release for nest production. Females actually begin pollinating almost immediately after release because they need to feed on pollen for their ovaries to properly develop. During bloom, check on the bees regularly. Note when the first nest tunnels are capped. Remove the incubation trays after 7 to 10 days from the shelters.
Many insecticides are lethal to the alfalfa leafcutting bee.
Avoid residues on leaves must also be avoided because the bees use leaves for cell construction. Do not apply insecticides during bloom. A fter B lueberry B loom Individual females may live as long as three months, which is far longer than blueberry bloom. If you are interested in producing leaf cells for the following year, the bees must have alternate forage after blueberry bloom ceases. Examples of suitable forage plants are alfalfa, buckwheat, dandelion, and red clover.