Mason Bees Houses

I have received several inquiries about making homes for Mason Bees. Here are some useful references that may give you ideas. They are expensive to buy and really not that hard to make , just make sure you use the type that can be cleaned out at the end of the season, removing the cocoons cleaning out the parasites and storing them for the winter. Do not use holes drilled in a wood block unless the holes are large enough to have a tube fit inside of them, so that the complete tube is removable.  The tube diameter that is best is  5/16” (8 mm) , but a variety of sizes close to this wont hurt.

They need a house, so go online and you will see a variety of ways to make one, buy one etc.  They are easy to make if you have access to a table saw or router. Place the bee home when completed  against a warm south facing wall.. be sure not to move it once they start using it as they cannot find entrances that easily if moved.
On the link on this  website https://www.gfletcher.ca/?cat=2  I give some other information on the Mason Bees.
You can also  buy various types of homes at local garden supply centres or order them on line..
The tube diameter that is best is  5/16” (8 mm)
Here’s one site , I believe he is up island.
and this one in Washington tells how to make your own: http://olypollinators.blogspot.ca/p/housing-mason-bees.html
stacking the Phragmites tubes in the bee house
stacking the Phragmites tubes in the bee house

Next winter I will harvest more of the Phragmites tubes so that I will have extras to sell. Then you just need the equivalent of a birdhouse without the  front on it.

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