On Sat, 21 Jul 2018 10:40:01 -0400, songbird >
wrote:

>U.S Janet B wrote:
>...
>> I've got about a dozen zucchini waiting the fridge. Today I will
>> shred them all and pack in 2 cup portions and freeze. 2 cups is what
>> all my zucchini baked goods recipes use.
>> I am not seeing any bees this year. I am having to hand pollinate the
>> zucchini. The cucumbers female blossoms are dropping, unpollinated.
>> Normally I have lots of bees.
>
> where about are you located?
>
> the bees that tend to work squash and cucumbers are
>more of the native bees like bumble bees and mason bees.
>many people kill their hives when discovered because
>they can sting multiple times and such. i've noticed a
>large drop in populations of these bees the past five
>years but we still have some around.
>
> i'm hoping it is just a temporary thing.
>
> the most likely causes of population declines are
>the pesticides being used and the diseases that are
>going around. also some habitat destruction and
>people getting rid of their nesting sites and also
>perhaps some competition from honey bees.
>
> you can build habitat for them and other native
>bees, here is one example:
>
> https://permaculturenews.org/2013/10...-insect-hotel/
>
>
> songbird

I'm in the inter-mountain west. A bee hotel is an interesting idea.
thanks
Janet US