Spring is a great time of year to get started with mason bees.

Having your own mason bees to pollinate your fruit trees helps to get a better fruit set, more and larger fruit.

Wherever you live, set out a mason bee home on a East facing wall, under cover from the rain, and in the sunshine.

Mason bees are present in North America, Asia, and in Europe.  Each continent with its own species.  Their nesting habits are the same.

You get better results if you set out a 5-6 homes for mason bees in your region.  With more nests, it is more likely that one of the nest is placed where a local mason bee will find it.  She will then produce offspring for you for next spring’s pollination season.

To keep mason bees healthy every year, harvest cocoons, clean out the nest and set the clean home out ready for spring.
Mor information on cleaning cocoons and nest can be found in my book “Pollination with Mason Bees”.  Available from your store or our on line web site Beediverse.com

Spring is a busy season for everyone!

Stores are stocked up with mason bee homes, books and DVD’s.  Most gardeners have set out their cleaned mason bee home and are ready for the bees to come out.  Some new mason bee enthusiasts, missed out on getting their mason bees, but they are still setting out their bee homes, because a female in the area, might find the nest and produce offspring for next year.

Nectarine and peach blossoms are opening up in California.  This is also happening in Arizona, but a recent frost likely damaged a lot of blossoms.

Here in Vancouver BC temperatures are still cool, but Pieris japonicus is out especially in protected areas such as alongside buildings.

Rex Welland always told me that in the warmer Victoria (BC), mason bees would come out mid-March, and fill their first nesting tubes by late March.  Right on schedule!

Watch out for the tell tale sign of clay-like deposits on the front of the nest.  These are the first droppings of the newly emerged bees.

The reason for setting out cocoons within the protection of a house that shelters nesting tunnels, is to provide the cocoons, and the mason bees inside, a place that is protected from predators like mice, protected from the sun and protected from rain and snow.

Royal house with predator guard

Temporarily remove predator guard from the front of the Royal house, and set vial on its side, with tab removed,  underneath peaked roof.  Replace predator guard.

Lodge without predator guard.

Chalet with predator guard.

Unwrap bundle of nesting trays by removing electricians tape.  Remove one set of trays, and re-tape remaining nesting trays. The vial can now be inserted under the roof and adjacent to the nesting tunnels.

Replace the predator guard of the Chalet after vial has been set inside the house.  When all bees have emerged- about 2 weeks after first bees emerge, remove vial, tape up the individual tray  and set above other trays.

Click into the link below for a writeup about my business Beediverse.
http://www.bcjobsandeconomy.gov.bc.ca/2010/10/solid-research-career-blooms-into-bee-business/

Dave M.’s emergence box with nests on either side. Emerged males are clustered on the outside of the emergence box waiting for females to emerge.

Close-up of emerged males on the outside of the emergence box.  Emergence hole of the box is visible below the hook. The white clay  spots on the front of the emergence box are the first signs that bees have emerged.  Bees defecate this material as soon as they emerge.

Dave uses stacked pieces of routered wood as nesting tunnels.  The emergence box removes the problem of predation during emergence.  Photo credits  Dave M.  Port Alberni.

This is one of my favorite flowers!  Dandelions are a welcome color in the spring and they are a great source of both nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.  



This honey bee (left hand side) and mason bee are too busy feeding on a dandelion flower to notice the photographer Dave M.  Port Alberni, BC.