mason bees

[Steve Potratz]

I recently learned about mason bees, easier to take care of, don’t make honey, just a pollinator.   There is even a company on the coast the rents them and when they go into hibernation you send them back.

 

https://rentmasonbees.com/shop/

 

Does anyone know if this kind of service is available in our area, sounds like a great low maintenance way to increase pollinators.

 

Steve

[Steve Moring]

Steve,   There are many species of mason bee in our region.   To attract them I just put out brooding tubes that I purchased from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in California.  See http://www.groworganic.com/search#q=mason%20bee%20hives&p=1
This is my second year doing this and I have a small colony established.

Steve Moring

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[Steve Potratz]

Nice, maybe I should figure out the right drill size and make a bunch of holes in a nearby dead tree.

[Ben Stallings]

Alternatively, you can make paper tubes the right size by rolling strips of a paper bag around a pencil and taping them into shape. Then pack the tubes together in an open-sided container (I used a juice can) and mount it under an eave.  --Ben

[Nathan]

Steve Moring,

Did those mason bees populate the logs with holes drilled in them in your north garden? I planned to do that this next coming week around here, but if it didnt work for you, I may try something else.

All the best,

Nathan.

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[Joan L Duggan]

You can also use soda straws, they work great.

Joan Duggan

[Steve Moring]

Nathan, at al,

On my first try to create a mason hive I cut 6 inch sections of 4 x 4" cedar posts and drilled about 30 holes into the end with a long 5/16" drill bit.  The holes were about 5.5" deep.  It turned out to be a lot of work.  I got the greatest satisfaction just by buying the bee tube nests from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (see link below).  The bees populated about 1/2 of the holes in two blocks.

Steve M

[Whitney Chaplin]

bamboo works. If you have some, even bamboo laying around for whatever reason.