Mason Bee success in New England?

[chrissv]

Hi All,
I live in Central MA, and last year decided to try to attract / raise mason bees.
I made a bee hive (block of wood with holes) based on information from the 'net, and hung it where I thought was a good location.

Nothing.

Has anyone in New England had success with Mason bee nests? Any suggestions?

Thanks - Steven

[Jim 134]

Hi All,
I live in Central MA, and last year decided to try to attract / raise mason bees.
I made a bee hive (block of wood with holes) based on information from the 'net, and hung it where I thought was a good location.

Nothing.

Has anyone in New England had success with Mason bee nests? Any suggestions?

Thanks - Steven

I hear the wood can NOT BE oil/painted/stain


BEE HAPPY Jim 134

[Ravenseye]

I did that two winters ago. I did stain mine. First year, I had ordered a few cocoons and ended up with about as many new cocoons as I had ordered. The next year I didn't order any online and ended up with about double the cocoons. This year, I put out a couple dozen store bought cocoons along with mine. Right now I have about 15 tubes filled up. I read about not staining long after I had finished my block so I don't know the effect it might have had. I'm happy so far. I look at it like a bird house. Sometimes you get birds. Sometimes you don't!

[chrissv]

My wood wasn't stained, so that wasn't the problem.

Do you always have to start out buying cocoons? I thought the bees would miraculously find my holes and think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

-- Steven

[Omie]

Oddly, so far the 3 species of solitary bees coming to my boxes over the past two years are strongly preferring the purchased cardboard tubes with paper liners, just piled in those 'cans' you can buy and then in a wood rain shelter, it's the middle nest box here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9fPBEJTqGz...-April2010.jpg
That was last year. This year the tubes in those two cans are completely full, so next year I'll need to double the number of tubes and construct a large taller wood rainbox shelter to put them in. I am replacing all paper liners every year, even in the drilled-hole wood blocks.

[woodinvilledave]

Omie is correct in her answer that you should be using liners. When you have blocks of wood, stained or not, without the ability to harvest, you're inviting a short lived colony in your backyard. Pests move in and without inspection and sorting of cocoons, they'll take over. Pollen mites, chalkbrood, and a few other parasitic wasps are your main issues.

My company, www.crownbees.com can help you understand more of what to expect. we also carry the inserts that Omie suggests. for a good price!

Dave