A t this time of year as you set out your mason bee cocoons, dont forget to provide a ready source of mud. This video shows a little trick I discovered where they seem to prefer mud tunnels to gather their mud for the tubes. This makes sense as there is less chance of predation by birds when picking up mud when the bees are out of sight.
Dig a small 5″ deep trench within a few metres of your bee houses, and bore horizontal holes into the side of it. Put a bucket of water in the trench when it looks dry.
It has been so cool in the last month here in Metchosin that my mason bees have almost missed the peach and nectarine blooming time.
The nectarines bloom a few days after the peaches, but they were out by April 7
The native flowering currants were even a month late this year.
A peach tree on the left with blossoms deteriorating, and a nectarine on the right at the south side of my barn. Three Mason bee houses are in the centre.
Update–April 15: Today they were the most active i have seen them . I started putting a few cocoons out a week ago, and have warmed up some indoors by just removing their containers from the fridge and then setting the jar out in the daytime when the sun is on them. Anyway a very unusual cold start for the spring.
Note the open jar top right I put out for release of bees when the sun is out
The small compartments also hold a supply of cocoons which will hatch naturally when the temperature warms up. 13-14 degree C is necessary.
I have several kinds of houses placed on the South East corner of our house.
I package these in lots of 30 now for $15.00.I include a variety of lengths and diameters if you want. Smaller diameters attract other mason bee species.
Some successful tubes split open before cleaning out the cocoons.
Even if you cant get bees this year, set out some tubes placed in a home made from a PVC pipe and you will probably attract native ones.
Well thats a takeoff on what I have decided to call my Mason Bee operation.. Its now MASON BEES METCHOSIN. Below are the latest versions of a poster and simplified yearly directions I have on a business card.
Scroll back through the mason bee postings to see samples of houses made from repurposed/recycled materials.
I now have mason bee cocoons available to be picked up at our farm for the Spring Season, 2017. You can email or phone ahead to arrange a time to get them: Osmia lignaria
Currently they have been cleaned and are refrigerated.
Phragmites reed tubes now available: $16.00 for 2 dozen
Costs for this yearfor two dozen packets are as follows:
25 Cleaned Mason Bee Cocoons = $15.00 24 (now 30) Phragmites reed tubes= $15.00
For Culturing, I also sell dried natural Phragmites reed grass stem tubes which I harvest from our wetland. I find that these tubes are the the most efficient type of tube for attracting mason bees and reducing parasite infection.
Also inexpensive re-purposed material houses are available.
I also have a selection of re-purposed materials bee houses complete with phragmites tubes installed . These range from $30.00 to $50.00. But I would really encourage you to make your own so samples for ideas will be available.
I am also already planning on attending the following Seedy Saturdays where I will have a display and the blue orchard bees for sale. (click on for links)
After removing the cocoons from their tubes, it is important to give then a good wash to get rid of mites. I do not use a bleach solution as some do, as I don’t think it is a very natural product and incorrect concentrations could have harmful effects.. I have no problem controlling the mite population either. .. I use three changes of lukewarm water in a large container. Then scoop them out by hand and dry on paper towels before putting in a plastic peanut butter jar in the fridge to hibernate until bloom time.
First rinse.. muddy and dirty.. dont throw this out as its good plant fertilizer!
After washing .. cocoons floating on surface of water.
I had moved all my Mason Bee Boxes inside in the late summer so am now extracting the cocoons and cleaning them up for storage in the refrigerator.
I was surprized how successful the longest tubes which I used (9 inches), have been this season. Below is a picture showing the number of cocoons I am regularly obtaining from these long tubes .
Success!! we took apart the tubes and the plastic tubes from our mason bee house. Our first year and we started with 36 cocoons from you and ended up with 141!
We’ve brushed them off nicely and have them settled in a wee container in the fridge.. here are a few pictures for you.
we found, in one tube, a small fly and assumed it must be a parasitic wasp?? Anyways..enjoy the pictures and we will get in touch to get some more tubes in the spring 🙂
I had a report recently from a mason bee enthusiast telling me that his mason bee colony had been attacked by rats and most of the cocoons had been taken. These images show what happened. One thing I note in the pictures is that the house wqas on a fence with a platform in front of the bank of tubes. It is best to have nothing that birds or rodents can stand on, and that might have prevented this type of predation. If one is concerned at this time of year, it would be a good idea to gently fasten a fine mesh wire screen to the opening of the box, or since the activity of the bees is probably finished, moe the house to a cooler safe location — gently because you want to be sure that the bee eggs have been secured into the food matrix.
Mason bee house which got attacked .
The house with the platform in front which probably allowed the rats to acccess the tubes
Empty compartments where the cocoons were removed.
Empty compartment with frasse : black droppings from the larvae.
