WHAT YOU NEED FOR CANDLING:
1. 6v flashlight with a bulb
2. A plastic candling dish
3. “Feather” touch forceps
4. A dark room
PHOTOS
These photos below clearly show what is a ‘good’ cocoon and a cocoon that needs to be discarded. In one cocoon a bee is clearly outlined showing its feet and mouth parts. The next photo is empty with the remains of a dead larvae. These are discarded. (You may want to have a closer look at what is inside these cocoons). The most common parasitic wasp species have about 10 little wasps per cocoon.
A cocoon filled with a healthy mason bee. Mouthparts and the forelegs are clearly visible.
An empty cocoon.
Set up candling set up, and turn lights off in teh room.
A cocoon with a parasitic wasp exit hole.
Remove this one! This cocoon contains developing parasitic wasps.