Category: Mason Bees and Phragmites reed-grass tubes

Mason Bees.. The best pollinator for spring and early summer pollination of your fruit trees.

Mason Bees (Blue orchard Bees) for sale in Metchosin, BC,

NOTE: I have updated this 2015 post in order to make it appear closer to the other mason bee information
2015-03-07 cocoons

I am now selling mason bee cocoons which you can  order and then pick up from my farm in Metchosin British Columbia. 

mason_bee_houseI raise my blue orchard bees in boxes like this, similar to a birdhouse without a front. The mud-filled tubes are complete, and they are still working on the open ones. The small compartment at the bottom, with a lid and hole in it,  is for depositing a handful of cocoons into when I remove them from the refrigerator.  This is done after their winter hibernation when I need pollinators for various fruit trees.

A section of 4 inch drain pipe can be used.A section of 4 inch drain pipe can be used as a mason bee house also.  A 5 cm.  overhanging lip at the top keeps the water out. I also have a limited number of Phragmites reed tubes for mason bee homes . They average 6 inches in length and can be packed horizontally in any container as long as it is waterproof.  Limited amount available at $5.00 per dozen.

 

masonbee
Female Mason Bee, ( Blue Orchard Bee) raised in and native to Metchosin BC.

See other postings here on Mason Bees :

Contact: garryf use the: “at sign” gmail dot com

Mazzzon Beezzzz Metchozzzzzzin

Well thats a takeoff on what I have decided to call my Mason Bee operation.. Its now MASON BEES METCHOSIN. Below are the latest versions of a poster and simplified yearly directions I have on a business card.

 

Scroll back through the mason bee postings to see samples of houses made from repurposed/recycled materials.

Note: I have created this 2017 posting to bring it closer to the other mason Bee information

Beware of this Bad Buy


Recently this Mason Bee house has appeared on the market and it has to be one of the worst pieces of equipment I have seen for encouraging mason bees. I have recently sent a request to Costco management requesting that this item be removed from their shelves.
The following are the reasons that I have made this criticism:

 

 

1. The tubes are made of bamboo and are impossible to break open to remove cocoons for cleaning to prevent parasitic mite infection. The manufacturer even gives directions to put them back outside in the spring  without cleaning out the parasitic mites. This is totally irresponsible as it will lead to an increase in mite population since you are creating a monoculture which encourages parasites.

2. The maximum depth of the tubes is less than 4 inches. Mason bees need at least a 6 inch depth. Also some of them are open ended allowing parastic wasps in the back end as well.

 

3.The diameter of many of the tubes is away too large. The ideal size for mason bees is 5/16 inch.

4. The diameter of many of the tubes was too small for mason bees.

5. Some of the tubes were glued in upside down with nodes at the front end preventing bees from entering.

6. Many of the tubes had nodes near the centre, rather than at the bottom end,  meaning they were less than 2 cm deep and no sane mason bee would use those tubes.

The partial solution if you end up buying one of these things if you can’t return it, is to remove all the tubes as in the video below, and fill them or replace them with disposable phragmites or cardboard tubes.

 

See an update on how to modify these tubes if you happen to be stuck with having bought a house like this.

Mason Bees at Seedy Saturdays/Sundays

ARCHIVAL: This post has been re-dated from 2016 in order to position it closer in the blog to Mason Bee Information

Selling mason  bees and reed tubes today proved to be very successful.  I had registered for  a table selling mason bees cocoons  and Phragmites reed-stem tubes at the Victoria Seedy Saturday.

My schedule for attending upcoming Seedy Saturdays is as follows, also you can follow the links to their websites for more details.

February 27: Sooke Seedy Saturday
March 6: Nanaimo Seedy Sunday.

March 12: North Vancouver Seedy Saturday
April 2: Surrey Seedy Saturday

I produced the poster below to identify my location at the seedy Saurdays.  A big thankyou to all who were willing to get engaged with raising mason bees and I encourage all those who buy my bees and tubes to give me feedback on their experience with raising them.

 

 

Seedy Saturday in Victoria 2021

 

NOTE: I have updated this 2015 post in order to make it appear closer to the other mason bee information

On Saturday I set up my display table in the Victoria Conference Centre to sell Mason Bee Cocoons and Phragmites Reed grass tubes for the Seedy Saturday event. I had decided to donate the profits from my sales to the Gofundme project I had started a few weeks ago while I was in Medellin Colombia, so I was able to donate $400.00 from todays profits.

http://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-and-hope-for-jorge

PHRAGMITES Reed Grass Tubes for Mason Bee pollinators available for 2018 season

 ARCHIVAL POST ONLY .. SEE MOST RECENT POSTS 

 

 

 

 

Basket full of cut Phragmites tubes..

Some successful Phragmites tubes split open in November before cleaning out the cocoons.

 

 

 

 

Harvesting Mason Bees —

NOTE: I have updated this 2015 post in order to make it appear closer to the other mason bee information

The Mason bee tubes are generally filled and a mud cap can be seen plugging the hole of the tube by the end of April-May and no further activity will be seen. It is best to not disturb the tubes for several weeks as the eggs are delicately placed on the stored food materials in each capsule and they take several weeks to get firmly implanted.

The first version of the mason bee house. Only one problem, where do you place the cocoons when they are ready to be released. Next years version soved that one.
The first version of the mason bee house. Only one problem, where do you place the cocoons when they are ready to be released. Next years version soved that one.

Any time after October you can open the tubes and clean the cocoons of parasites for storage over winter in a refrigerator or a cool  place outside protected from mice and birds. Some tubes may appear empty. Use a wire or a small round file to check.

Unused tubes may be used again but only if they are clean and parasite free.

‘

Split the tubes open in the winter and remove the cocoons,clean and store in a refrigerator until March.
Split the tubes open in the winter and remove the cocoons,clean and store in a refrigerator until March.

 

These are pictures of unsuccessful egg laying. The orange mixture of pollen and nectar was pu in the compartments but these ones must have missed getting a viable egg.
This is a picture of unsuccessful egg laying. The orange mixture of pollen and nectar was put in the compartments but these ones must have missed getting a viable egg.

 

A light brush can be used to roll them around., and they can be swirled around in sand. .Their cocoons are very durable.Some people even go so far as to wash them.
A light brush can be used to roll them around., and they can be swirled around in sand. .Their cocoons are very durable.Some people even go so far as to wash them.

And when you are finished, compost the last year's tubes.
And when you are finished, compost the last year’s tubes.

 

Mason Bees for Sale: Spring 2017

ARCHIVAL: This post has been re-dated from 2017 in order to position it closer in the blog to Mason Bee Information
( SOLD OUT for 2017 and 2018) SEE most recent post:

I now have mason bee cocoons available to be picked up at our farm for the Spring Season, 2017.  You can email or phone ahead to arrange a time to get them:  Osmia lignaria

 

Currently they have been cleaned and are refrigerated.

Phragmites reed tubes now available: $16.00 for 2 dozen

Costs for this year for two dozen packets are as follows:
25 Cleaned Mason Bee Cocoons = $15.00
24 (now 30) Phragmites reed tubes= $15.00

For Culturing, I also sell dried natural Phragmites reed grass stem tubes which I harvest from our wetland. I find that these tubes are the the most efficient type of tube for attracting mason bees and reducing parasite infection.

Also inexpensive re-purposed material houses are available.

Another Pallet design holding 4 dozen tubes. This website shows how to use only pallets that are chemically safe

I also have a selection of re-purposed materials bee houses complete with phragmites tubes installed . These range from $30.00 to $50.00. But I would really encourage you to make your own so samples for ideas will be available.

I am also already planning on attending the following Seedy Saturdays where I will have a display and the blue orchard bees for sale. (click on for links)

January 14: Saanich Seedy Saturday
February 4: Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday.
February 18: Victoria Seedy Saturday.
February 25: Sooke Seedy Saturday
March 4 : Comox Valley Seedy Saturday
 

March 5 : Nanaimo Seedy Sunday

 

Provide a Source of Mud for Mason Bees


A t this time of year as you set out your mason bee cocoons, dont forget to provide a ready source of mud. This video shows a little trick I discovered where they seem to prefer mud tunnels to gather their mud for the tubes.  This makes sense as there is less chance of predation by birds when picking up mud when the bees are out of sight.

Dig a small 5″ deep trench within a few metres of your bee houses, and bore horizontal holes into the side of it. Put a bucket of water in the trench when it looks dry.

 

Note I have updated this post to place it closer to other mason bee entries.