I have just placed about  1/3 of all posts into one or more categories.  This is a great way to place blogs of a certain topic under one heading.  If you see a category that should be included into the blog- Let me know!

I will continue working on this part of the update.  In the meantime we are going to move over our blog subscribers to this blog.  Subscribers receive notification of newly posted blogs.  This is a handy reminder that there is a new post.

I have just figured out how to add new categories into the blog.  I think this will make it a lot simpler to find articles of interest because blogs are grouped under a one or more categories.  One blog may be under several categories.

For example, my trip to Holland last year has a blog on bee attractive flowers.  This particular blog would be under two categories: Travel, and Bee attractive plants.

If you have an idea for this blog or an idea  for a new category, please let me know.-Margriet

from Denise S.
I’ve often wondered how mason bees, both in the wild and in provided nesting tubes, get enough air to breathe as they develop.  The chambers are divided by mud that even pollen mites can’t get through, and are surrounded by wood or thick cardboard.  Where does their oxygen come from?

On Jul 21, 2012, at 6:01 PM, Margriet Dogterom wrote:

When bees hibernate, their metabolism slows down and they need very little air.  I presume, there is always some air transfer amongst the mud particles.
Thank you so much for your prompt reply, Dr. Dogterom. 
Denise.

Hi Margriet…

I was fascinated with all the great reports and photos on latest blog…
thanks…and thanks to all those who share their experiences with these
little critters…However I didn’t see the photo of   “red color on cell
surface”…<this story is on the next page>..I was delighted with the bumble bee story as I did enjoy daily
visits from bumbles to my plants on the little balcony and the hover fly
hunting for aphids …learning about and watching the  Mason Bees has
encouraged me to sit quietly and was able to witness  other wonders more
carefully…including the weather…I have 3 nests filled and was awed when
the few bee I had were able to survive several cool wet days…this fall
will be my first experience harvesting and cleaning cocoons and I have a
milk carton with reeds to attached to the window frame hoping to encourage
bees hatching from my bedroom window weep hole next year (as they have done
for the past 4 years) to use reed nests.

Have a great summer

Diane