Mason Bee Keeping

[northof53]

I hope my bees will make it to fruit blossom time. I am not counting on it as the apples do not bloom till May.

I have one objective this year and that is to get my own cocoons, so letting the bees out when the early dandelions, wild chokecherries and Saskatoon bushes bloom will probably be my best chance that the bees are still alive in the fridge.

Then I can harvest and store my own and get the timing right. From what I have read Mason Bees can be in storage 200 days until loss of bees starts to happen. I have no idea when these bought cocoons were collected, or at what temps. they were stored. They apparently will stay dormant longer if the temps are nearer freezing or right at 32F.

[ltilton]

They seem to hatch on their own schedule, not mine

[speedster1]

I put mine out yesterday. Not many fruit blooms out now but I have a couple of dogwoods and the neighbor have bradfords. Should keep them busy until pears and apples pop.

[northof53]

When the paper mentioned dandelions I knew I would be in the clear, I have plenty of those and they do bloom early.

[ltilton]

So there they are in their bee house, shivering and huddling in the cold

[GardenGekko]

Ok this thread got me motivated…

[TheDerek]

So do mason bees NEED to be kept inside during the winter? I dont want to bother collecting/cleaning embryos or whatever. If they die above ground due to cold, would it be better to bury them under straw/hay to help insulate during the cold months?

[ltilton]

You live in zone 3, I’d say they’re likely to freeze to death most years

Here in zone 5/6, I used to keep them outside some years, but things like squirrels and birds get them

You don’t HAVE to do anything like clean them, it’s not essential

[ltilton]

I went out to check my hatching bees, and I saw a nasty damnrobin lurking around to catch them

[ltilton]

Something is REALLY getting into the bees!

[speedster1]

I checked my bees and don’t see any flying around. Many of the cacoons have hatched open but no sign of life. Either they are off foraging, have been eaten by birds, or skipped town to find better digs. There is plenty of blooms around so not sure what’s up. Could have just wasted some serious cash.

[ltilton]

If it’s not sunny and warm, they hide out

[speedster1]

I’ll keep my eye out for them

[JohnS]

They don’t move super far-100 yards, like a squirrel. I think Speedster1 has it down: Keep flowers pollinating early so they have something to stay and eat. I do nothing to my mason bees and they expand. I’m in zone 8 and I have lots of early and late flowers.
John S
PDX OR

[Auburn]

Is this a Mason Bee? Sorry about the low quality picture. The bee was going from one flower to the other. I almost thought it was a large fly.

[JCT]

I usually have a lot of mason bees this time of year, working my lemon tree and the other blossoms in the yard. Not so much this year. I can hear them in the tree, but I do not see too many of them. I’ll have to put up some habitat for them for next year.

[ltilton]

That’s hard to see, but it looks more waspy to me, and a mason bee has no yellow, as well as being more blocky-shaped

[speedster1]

I just saw my first Mason bee this spring. It’s sunny outside but still chilly. This guy was facing the sun to collect a little warmth. Hope that’s just a male and not a nesting female. That is not an ideal location. I’m pretty sure it’s a male since it has the white nose

[ltilton]

Looks larger - female size

[northof53]

That is such a cool picture, he looks like he is surveying his domain. I can’t wait to put mine out.