Making a mason bee house

[andalusn]

It was pretty simple project, cut the pipe, attached to the barn wall and filled with the tubes. Then taped on the vial of cacoons and removed the tape to let mother nature take over and let them emerge when the timing is right. Planted the Peris shrubs in front of the barn to offer nector for when they hatch needing extra energy to get going and later on to help make the bee bread.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Ok I would like to know where ya got the plans and the list of what ya need LOL. Looks like it would be fun also where did ya get the cacoons. Interesting, are gardening conferance is on April 10th this year. My brother in law is doing the class on honey bee's sure hope I get into that one.

 

[andalusn]

Our local Backyardbirdshop sells many ready made houses and books. Recently they held a class where a local women who has written a book and studies the local mason bee here. Her website is very nice and I really like her book. I bet you can order her book from the shop and have it and cacoons mailed to you. I have done other internet searches and found online resources that sell the cacoons as well. For my PVC houses the idea came from talking with the store staff and then the book by Sherian Wright. Many of her houses are items picked up at garage sales and then inserting tubes inside.

Sherian's website offers some links and her book info too: http://web.me.com/mtnbugs/mtnfolder/Cover/links.html

We have had a lot of heavy rain this past week and I was concerned the tubes or cacoons would get wet but checked them today and all are dry and ready to go when the temps get right and they hatch. I was in my yard working when I noticed I could hear just lots of buzzing.... my flowering plum was alive with honey bees. There were hundreds swarming the tree. I just stood under it and listened and watched.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

My brother in law raises honey bees and is doing a class on it April 10 at our local MSU gardening conferance I am signed up already hope I get into his class LOL. It is all day with breakfast lunch and a speaker and 5 separate classes you can take that day. You have to sign up using your 1st and 2nd choice. I can't wait. I want to thank you for the web site I will be checking that out.

 

[andalusn]

Checked the Mason Bees tonight. I thought the vial of cacoons looked like they rearranged themselves. There was a cacoon stuffed up against the opening in the cap that is the exit hole. I got brave and took the cap off and there was more than one cacoon that was empty. They are hatching! I don't see them on the ground but I will keep my eyes peels to see where they went. Turns out another friend has collected their staws of cacoons each year and are putting theirs out this weekend. One of the dwarf apple trees is really getting ready to bloom so I guess the bees and trees are on track.

 

[andalusn]

Mason Bees all over the front of the barn! I was checking the cacoon supply to see if more had hatched and then I realized that yes they had but also my bees from last year are also out and about. Some are very large and busy coming and going from already established holes in the wood of the barn. Then I got to studying the new houses and yep, there was bee busy working in a new tube. I tried to get pictures but they were either too far away on the barn to get close up or my camera could not focus on the white tubes very well to pick up the very dark bee. Currently I have one apple tree full of blossoms and the others just budding so I guess we are still on trac to balance having trees to pollenate and enough other foliage to feed the bees as well so they make good bee bread for the larva laying.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Good for you can't wait to see pictures am watching this thread close thanks for sharing. You must be over the moon excited.

 

[andalusn]

When I went out to feed the horses and chickens I checked the tubes (the rain let up) and I can see their little tushy in the tubes. Ran and got the camera... the lighting was good with the clloud cover and managed to get a few pics that show they have been in more than one tube and are busy working two right now.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Nice pic thanks for sharing with us.

 

[wekiva bird]

me too!