IT IS CANDLING TIME OCT- DEC

Here are  a few pictures of the candling process and the things we saw when candling.  Candling is the final stage of harvesting and cleaning of mason bee cocoons.  First comes harvesting using a SCOOP;  placing  cocoons into a bucket of water comes next;  then washing cocoons under running water using a metal SIEVE  (the scouring of the sieve removes the last remaining mites):  next is the rinsing of cocoons with a 0.05% bleach solution (about 2 tablespoons into a gallon of water) which removes any parasitic fungi.  After allowing cocoons to dry onto some paper towels, cocoons are ready to be candled.

  • Mason bee cocoons ready for candling in a candling dish.

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