Hi. I have been using the solitary bee hotel for about 4 years now at my home near Ottawa. It has been fully occupied by about mid August for the last two years, as evidenced by every hole being plugged with mud - with some showing a small amount of green leaf left as food. The holes are about 3.25” deep in old cedar and the hotel is mounted about 4’ off the ground. What has then happened (both years) is that many of the holes appear to have been broken out as if the bees decided to leave now rather than winter over. Our summer this year was very hot and dry, but last year was cool and rainy. When I cleaned out the holes this spring I did not find any dead bees or evidence of fungus etc. The holes were filled with mud to the back but had small dia. “pilot holes” down the centre. Can anyone tell me what is happening?
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