We have know deployed 250 nestboxes for pollinators (solitary bees) along the stream Trönningeån. The main purpose is to increase the population of solitary bees in the project area, but at the same time we want to get more knowledge about which parameters are important for the different species. The photo show a few of the nest box packages we have deployed in the area during the last week. Each nest box consists of ca 30-50 holes (i.e. individual nests) so in total we have deployed ca 8 000 – 12 000 nests for the solitary bees in the LIFE-Goodstream area.

To get answers to our questions we have ordered specially designed nest boxes, consisting of woodblocks with drilled holes of different diameters. We have also bought nest boxes that are currently in the market to evaluate their efficiency. The woodblocks are from different tree species (Elm, Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch, Poplar, Fir and Pine). By replicating the nest boxes in packages at selected sites we hope to get answers to the following questions:

– Which diameter is most important for the solitary bee species in the area? Does it differ between sites in the project area?

– Does the tree species of the nest boxes affect the colonization

– How well do the nest boxes on the market work

– How does location in the landscape affect colonisation of the nest boxes (distance from water, land use etc)