Following the progress of resin bees and wasps as they populate and develop in the observation bee hotel.
Photo below: 26/12/2024. The top cavity is all Resin Bee Larvae. The lower cavity has been provisioned by a Mud Wasp with Fly Larvae? Then a Resin Bee has taken over the cavity with two cells so far.
Photos below: Resin Bee development photos for the one circled in the top cavity. It’s been nearly two months from egg compared to the one month for the Wasp. The last photo shows what I assume are mites. There’s quite a few around the cells, possibly normal? While difficult to see because it’s wrapped in a cellophane wall, the Resin Bee is moving around and seems ready to break out soon.
Photos below: Mud Wasp developing. Photos taken every two days. Not a strict timeline, but from an egg around December 20 and emerging January 18, roughly four weeks for the Wasp development.
These observation hotels are available in the Hivecraft shop – https://www.hivecraft.com.au
