Wasps inside cigar-like cocoons.
Hi,
I put boxes out for summer bees this year but got none. I did however get loads of Mason Wasps. I retrieved the cocoons from the boxes and found that the cocoons look like little cigars with a dark brown color. They are brittle compared to Mason Bee cocoons and contain Larva. Do they overwinter as larva and develop next summer? Can they be stored as Mason Bees? Thanks Norm Z.
Hi- I have seen these before, but never knew that these were wasps. If in the fall it is still a soft-bodied undeveloped wasp, I would expect them to develop in early summer months as temperatures warm up. This is where the petri-dish comes in handy. Place cocoons in a petri-dish adjacent to a wet paper towel. Keep it on the countertop and see what emerges. Thanks Margriet
