Humidity &
Temperature Map

The bright red areas have less than 20 days below 32 and would require additional refrigeration to get the bees to emerge properly - I do not suggest raising the bees in these coastal areas.  These bees have similar cold requirements as apples trees do.

About the 100th parallel is the division between the subspecies of Osmia lignaria in the USA.  This is also the area where the humidity drops below 65% annually.  Osmia lignaria prorinqua are adapted to the areas below about 65% humidity whereas  Osmia lignaria lignaria and Osmia cornifrons are adapted to the areas where the annual humidity is greater than about 65%.  Irrigation can raise the actual local annual humidity levels.  The bees should be released in areas respective of their humidity requirements.  My experience indicates that the bees may disperse from where they emerge if the humidity is not within their range.

Orchard Bees Pollination Comparisons   |    Osmia lignaria   |   Osmia cornifrons 
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