Beediverse Product updates

Field Shelter in Community garden

Published September 6, 2012 | By Margriet

Hello Margriet, Finally, I am attaching photos, as promised some time ago, of the bee condo structure my husband and I designed and built at our community garden in False Creek, Vancouver, BC.

Since we put it up fairly late in the season, we were too late for any bees to take up residency, but we are planning on getting cocoons next spring to “kick start” the cycle.

I hope you enjoy the photos. Kind regards, Monica

Hi Monica,

Thanks for the photos. This is a good workable shelter for mason bees when there are no other structures around to attach your nests. Others who work in community gardens might very well use this idea themselves. I recommend taking the nest down until early spring when you set out your bee cocoons to avoid any winter mishaps.

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Beediverse DVD :)

Published June 27, 2012 | By Margriet

Hi, Bee Diverse,

I work at an ecological non profit in Vancouver at which we keep mason bees. I just finished watching your DVD, All About Mason Bees, and I wanted to thank you for making such a fantastic informative video. The infra red footage was really spectacular. As the video began, I thought to myself – “But what is it like IN the cell? How does the bee pack the pollen and the mud? What does it look like?” And then, voila! That footage was amazing!

Thanks so much,

Kristjanne V

Click here to go to our Beediverse web site.

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Leafcutter bee Kit now available.

Published May 22, 2012 | By Margriet

We now have available, both the Chalet and Highrise with specifically designed nests for the leafcutter bee. In addition, the Chalet and one of the Highrises, also has the cardboard wrap for the other small summer mason bees. With or without bees, this refuge and nesting site is a boon for increasing your summer pollinators. At this time leafcutter bees are availabe in Canada only.

Click here to go to beediverse website

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New Product-Leafcutter Bee Kit-available soon

Published May 6, 2012 | By Margriet

Leafcutter bee cocoons. Different colored cocoons are made from leaves and petals..

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Leafcutter bee Highrise

Leafcutter Highrise-availabe soon

Extra space in the attic for storing and emerging cocoons.

Emerging cocoons in cardboard box.

A predator guard in front of the nest
protects nests and bees

Nests and bee cocoons behind predator guard.

In the fall-Step one- lift nest block out of Highrise.

In the fall-Step 2- push cocoons out with wooden dowel (supplied) and store in attic under roof of Highrise.

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Mason bees for sale

Published March 14, 2012 | By Margriet

Yes, Beediverse has both Osmia lignaria (early spring mason bees) and Osmia californica (late spring mason bees) available until late April.

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Variety of nests. Advantages & Disadvantages

Published February 29, 2012 | By Margriet

My friend from Duncan sent me photos of all her different nest types. No matter what kind of nests you design or use, most nests are used by bees. They will prefer some over others, but if there are lots of bees, and nesting space is limited, mason bees will use any type of nesting cavity. But the type of nest takes on a different meaning when considering that keeping mason bees and keeping them pest free is of a very high priority. The ease of getting into the nest, harvesting and cleaning cocoons become a very high priority because it determines in part the success of mason bees.

Cleaning station in the kitchen.

These are hexagon shaped nestign tunnels made of clear plastic.
There is no doubt that mason bees use it, but cleaning nests and
harvesting cocoons is not possible with this nest type. In most locations
if nests are not kept clean, parasites and mites build up in
such numbers that the bee population collapses in 3-4 years.

This structure holds the clear plastic hexagons, paper
tubes and reeds. Paper tubes can be opened and cocoons can be harvested.
Reeds can also be opened with relative ease. Take care
when choosing reed type because some types of bamboo are near to impossible to open.

This is the Beediverse Highrise with tubes on the side.
The Highrise Quicklock nesting trays can be opened and
cleaned. After cleaning these nesting trays can be re-assembled
for the following spring.