Mason Bee Care

Housing

• Mason bees live in holes in pieces of wood. These bees might inhabit loose areas under a house's shingles or in a tree with holes in it. The easiest way to keep an eye on your bees is to maintain a block house for them. This house is simply a wooden block, between 4.5- and 8.5-inches deep, in which you can drill holes in the front. These holes should be between 4 and 8 inches deep, and should end about half an inch before the back of the block. The holes should have a diameter of about 5/16 of an inch. This is the perfect size for producing the bees, as this size hole will produce many females. Female mason bees live longer and pollinate more flowers than male mason bees. Smaller holes will develop the male bees. A few holes with a smaller diameter can be added to produce them. Place a slanted roof, of shingles or a thin piece of wood, over the bee box.This will protect the bees from water and harsh sunlight.

Nesting Needs

• Mason bees do not produce honey. However, they do need both nectar and pollen to construct their nests. These substances will be mixed with mud to form compartments in the holes in the bee box. The mason bees will then lay their eggs in these holes, and seal them off with the same mixture. Mason bees need to be near flowering plants, such as fruit trees, in order to obtain these ingredients. A trough or puddle of mud or very damp soil should also be provided.This mud should be clay-like. It should not be too rich in organic ingredients, or too sandy.

Pollination

• Throughout the spring, the mason bees will work continuously to gather pollen and nectar. As they do, they pollinate the flowers they visit. These bees are very efficient at their task. However, mason bees live shorter lives than other pollinating bees. They start to die in the summer. For this reason, these bees cannot pollinate a garden that blooms into the summer or fall. However, these bees are excellent at pollinating crops or flowers, such as the fruit trees, that only need pollination in the spring.

Hibernation

• The eggs that were laid in the bee box and sealed in with mud will spend the fall and winter hibernating, and will emerge in the spring. In order to emerge from the box in a healthy, functioning state, the bees require a period of cooling, which regulates their growth. The bee boxes can be stored in outdoor sheds, to protect them from weather and predators, or in a refrigerator. Either way, the temperature should remain between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Move the bees back outside in the early spring. They will warm up over a period of days and emerge from the box.