Mason Bee Keeping

[speedster1]

I asked this question in an earlier reply and didn’t get an answer. So I’ll try again.

If I were to let my bees out and they hatch and start pollinating what would happen to them if we got cold weather again? At what temps would the adult mason bees be harmed? Would they die at temps in the 20s? Or would they just hold up in the bee house and wait until warmer weather?

[Bradybb]

All those things could happen and some could die if the temps were below 25F for an extended period,say over a week.Even if they retreated to the nesting box and they’d probably do that,but the box isn’t going to provide much warmth and they need to eat some nectar and pollen for energy,which is done at the time a flower is visited.Plus their mud sources will most likely be frozen. Brady

[ltilton]

This happens regularly, and they huddle in the bee house until the temps are iirc in the 50s again… Mine have never been killed off, but I’m sure they would if the weather were dire. Some people put their bees out on a staggered schedule, to prevent this

[speedster1]

Thanks Brady and Lois. I think I’ll put half of them out soon and wait a while longer to put the others out. I’ just need to make sure I have both males and females in each batch. I’ve looked at the cacoons and there are indeed two different sizes. So it shouldn’t be that hard to do.

[brownmola]

I was really lazy and never took the cocoons out of my mason bee house. I just cracked open the house and saw several white larvae. I would have thought they would have pupated by now. Any hope for them turning into actual bees?

[barry]

I made this Mason bee house and put it out a few weeks ago. This is my first try at this. One hole is plugged up so far with another on its way. I decided against purchasing cocoons so these are native gals. It was not clear from reading articles that Mason bees were this far south. These are a bluish green color. Perhaps blue orchard masons, although I think there are several species in the east.

[Auburn]

Thanks for posting. Now you have me wondering if I have time to make and put out a few. What size bit did you use and how deep did you drill. Thanks, Bill

[barry]

I cut up a 2"×4"×10’ into 6 inch lengths and drilled them lengthwise completely through with a 3/8" drill bit, a long one. Then inserted rolled parchment paper, folded the tag ends over on the back side and screwed on a piece of 1"×4" on the back to seal it up. Slapped the 2x4 pieces together side by side.

[Auburn]

Thanks. I like your plan in that it is simple enough for me to make and it can be cleaned out for reuse. Bill

[barry]

Would have been a lot easier with a drill press, but it was still doable, just tedious drilling.

I still have yet to see one on a flower. Only have seen them just inside the holes in the evening or after dark. Mostly bumblebees and carpenters on my blueberries.

I think you are an hour or two north of me so I’d bet you can still get some. Monday this week was my first sighting and I think they are active for a month or so.

[Auburn]

Thanks

[speedster1]

I still haven’t put my cacoons out because nothing is blooming right now. My stone fruit all got toasted and my pommes are still a 2-3 weeks away it seems. I thought about buying some potted flowers and sitting them near the house to get them started.

[ltilton]

I can usually count on forsythia

[TheDerek]

Boy you guys go all out. I have a wood pile with whole cut logs in it and I just go out each spring and drill a bunch of holes in a new log. They find it and make their little homes. Also mid summer I have leaf cutter bees doing the same thing, last year I had a problem with a woodpecker that raided my homes and took a bunch of the larvae tho, hopefully he didnt get too deep into the holes. Thinking about putting some wire mesh over them this year to keep the birds away.

[Quill]

Well I went all out buying the wood layers with grooves and straps, spending more than I will admit to, just to have the bees find other digs - more to their liking! The good news is that last year they came back to check out my blossoms so less work for me.

[BobC]

Here’s an old mason box. Birds are tearing it up now.

[Auburn]

How long did it last before the birds damaged it? Simple enough if you can get a couple of years life from it.

[BobC]

It has been there for 10 years at least. I haven’t taken care of it.

[Auburn]

Thanks

[northof53]

This thread is interesting, I just got mason bees and a house from the grandkids for my Birthday. Not expecting to get mason bees, I have been reading up on them and they are certainly and interesting insect. I am going to use the cardboard tubes and liners, it gets too cold here in the winter to leave them out.
It is my understanding that you wash the cocoons in a bleach solution before you put them out. I have included the link to the info page, it is certainly thorough and tells you how to load the tubes with the unhatched cocoons if you want to release them that way. Mason Bee Central