Esagó
Bee HouseHome for solitary bees
2023-2025
Un “hotel” per la nidificazione delle api selvatiche
Esagó was born from a unique personal story: the transformation of a difficult moment in my career into something useful and beautiful.
Esagó is a fir wood ‘dwelling’ for so-called ‘solitary’ bees, little known but extremely important for ecosystems as they are tireless pollinators, even though they do not produce honey.
They love to nest in groups, so it can be very useful to build shelters like these (preferably made of natural materials such as wood) to help them reproduce.
What are solitary bees?
Osmia bee at work on the previous version of Esagó.
There are several species of solitary bees widespread throughout Italy, which are harmless and often (unfortunately) mistaken for dangerous bees.
They usually fly from late February to late May, producing only one generation per year. Unlike honey bees, they do not live in colonies, and each female reproduces on her own.
These small wild bees like to nest in fairly deep cavities. They often choose reeds, straw tubes or bamboo.
A female can lay between 10 and 30 eggs here. She places them neatly in rows, separating them with “walls” of clay and saliva, and fills each cell with a mixture of pollen and nectar, on which she lays a pen-shaped egg. Often, the first and last cells remain empty: these serve as protection against predators (including birds).
Photo showing the arrangement of the broods inside the cavities
Where to put the solitary bee house?
It is advisable to place these ‘hotels’ for wild solitary bees in a south or south-east facing position, sheltered from the rain: under a canopy, a sloping roof, an eave or cover; but also attached to a tree if it is sufficiently sheltered.
Esagó is designed to be placed on a surface or hung up.
Solitary bees don't always immediately "notice" or "trust" these new homes, and they may begin nesting even a year after they've been placed. Patience is therefore essential!
Handcrafted and customisable
Esagó is a completely handmade project, assembled manually and customisable on request. Each bee house can be painted in any colour you like.
