Bee Liners; As a beekeeper, I am somewhat reluctant to ask this question, but as an extension agent advising growers of insect pollinated crops I feel like I need to. As much as I like to think that every farmer who grows crops requiring pollination rents the requisite numbers of hives per acre, I know it ain't so. I was addressing a watermelon production meeting last week and two of the farmers asked me why their bees had died. Varroa is probably going to be a watershed event for these casual beekeepers and I can't see recommending they get back into the Apis mellifera business. Which begs the question, what can these growers do to encourage wild pollinators? Does anyone have sets of specifications for nest structures to attract solitary bees? I guess I am looking for a FAQ on wild pollinators for the east coast. I know the generalities on habitat and pesticide use, but I am looking for specific information on nesting structures to work up into a simple fact sheet for farmers. Along this line I have a very interesting paper from the 50's by R. L. Rabb at N. C. State University where Polistes were trapped and moved and encouraged to nest around tobacco fields to act as predators on lepidopterous pests. I have built Polistes nest boxes (basically bird houses with no front and bottom) and had good rates of success. Bill Lord -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: [log in to unmask] Phone : 9194963344