28 May 2018 Mason Bee House

[Durgan]

http://durgan.org/2018/May 2018/28 May 2018 Mason Bee House/HTML/28 May 2018 Mason Bee House
My Mason Bee house (48 tubes) arrived today and was installed in a prepared weather proof enclosure namely a five gallon pail, and placed in a shaded tree. The house was supplied by Crown Bees on the internet. A small container of flexible garden clay was also placed in the enclosure. Cost around $60.00. There are few bees in my extensive garden and my aim is to attract some mason bees. At the present time it is an experiment.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Spruce pine fir (spf) standard lumber under a waterproof rainshield or shingles will be a prizefor them to dig into as well.

 

[MaryMary]

Good luck!!

Please keep us posted when you see any activity!!

 

[Durgan]

Nothing yet. I may have been too late putting the mason bee house in position. It is also cold and there are few insects. There may be hope yet.

 

[MaryMary]

As I understand it, Mason bees are active at a lower temperature than Leaf-cutters. So if it is still cold, you have a chance for Mason bees. (I would think.)

If not, you might still wind up with Leaf-cutters.

 

[Everbrown]

I know you grow a lot of fruits and veggies, not sure about flowers though ? Perhaps a few bee loving native flowers nearby would get their attention close to house.

 

[Durgan]

I have a large number of flowers. I found bees love papaver somniferm. I will put a patch in next year.

 

[MaryMary]

Nothing yet. I may have been too late putting the mason bee house in position. It is also cold and there are few insects. There may be hope yet.

Durgan, I'm curious. Did you get any bees, or were you too late for last year?

 

[Durgan]

No bees I will activate the house a soon as the snow is gone. It was too late last year.

 

[roadrunner]

I have tons of logs around the house from chopping down two very large trees. Going to get the drill out....

 

[MaryMary]

@roadrunner, the hole should be about 5/16" in diameter and at least 6" deep.

The first few bees in the nesting tunnel closest to the entrance are always males. The last two or three bees deeper in the tunnel are females.

(Hence, the importance of at least a six inch tunnel. If the tunnel is too short, there will be only male bees. The tunnel can be longer than six inches, but six is good.) https://www.lawn-care-academy.com/orchard-mason-bee.html

 

[roadrunner]

@roadrunner, the hole should be about 5/16" in diameter and at least 6" deep.

Thanks, I've been meaning to check into that before I drill, now I got the info...