As you know, most of Australia’s ~2000 native bee species are soil nesting bees. In addition to providing patches of appropriate bare soil (among lawns, garden beds, or in mounds), we can add other components to increase the appeal to female bees looking for nest sites. Adding large stones or pieces of concrete that provide sheltered overhangs can increase the likelihood of bees starting nests. In the photo below, an old grave in a cemetery provides a sheltered overhang and you can see the soil below is riddled with insect burrows, including those of bees. Some bee species also favour nesting in soil among small pebbles, so providing little collections of them on patches of appropriate soil may be of benefit too.
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