>> cared for a base population capable of 
>> producing a "commercially deployable" 
>> number of solitary bees for multiple years

> When was that, really?

Mid 1990s through 2002 or so when I gave it up as a distraction from the
mainline  business of Farmageddon, honey bees.  The initial "Batra-sourced"
stock came from Bill and Nancy Troup of MD, who were using an old doghouse
as their "bee hotel", and had some direct descendants of Suzanne's Japanese
Hornfaced Bee stock.  I tested them in orchards ranging from the NC/VA
border up to the Charlottesville VA area, and all orchards were on the
eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, from 800 feet to 2000 feet.   Also tried
some others, but I held out the most hope for the Hornfaced.  (I was
optimistic, enthusiastic, gullible...)

What are your first-hand experiences with deploying solitary bees for
pollination, if any?

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