We Place the Leaf Cutter Bee Cocoons At Our Residential Lot

Gene incubated the leaf cutter bee cocoons starting on 18 May 2021. By 8 June 2021 they started to emerge. That is about 21 days which is consistent with the guidance. Here is the explanation from Crown Bees in Seattle:

"Leafcutter Bee Cocoon Incubation

Leafcutter bees hibernate as larvae inside of their protective leafy cocoons and they need warm temperatures to develop into adult bees, this is called incubation. Leafcutter bee cocoons purchased from Crown Bees are incubated until adult bees begin to emerge.

To incubate your own harvested leafcutter cocoons, plan ahead to time their emergence with your summer weather and open blooms. Place the BeeGuard Bag or a CococonGuard Bag full of harvested cocoons into a dark warm location, like your water heater room. Remember to check periodically for any sneaky pteromalus parasitic wasps and emerged adult bees.

Development is dependent on time spent in warm temperature:

• At 84F/30C, adults emerge after about 20 days."

It was definitely above 84F in Phoenix during May, June of this year! Gene explains what happened:

Gene followed Wayne Mennie's advice (JWM Leaf Cutters, Inc.) to refrigerate the bees to 55-57F until they can be placed in the desired loction.

The next day, we placed them at the residential lot in Gilbert, AZ; Site1a2greenhouse. We placed them next to the greenhouse where they should be shaded from all direct sunlight:

The site has lots of flowering plants including roses, cannons, crepe myrtle and many more. We also placed one of our temperature and humidity monitors next the cocoons on top of the foam habitat.

Leaf Cutter Bees Cocoons and Habitat in Gilbert, AZ at Site1a2greenhouse

Michelle later observed that we were getting direct sunlight at about 3 pm. She fashioned a sun shade from a greenhouse panel and that solved the problem:

Sun Shade Fashioned By Michelle

We did observe multiple bees emerging and flying away.