Note: Available December through March
WHAT ARE MASON BEES?
Mason Bees are found naturally all over North America. There are 402 species that live in the United States. We tend not to notice them because they are dark blue in color and look like large flies. Mason bees are different than honey bees and bumble bees because they do not have a queen, do not make hives, and do not make honey. Because they do not have these things to protect, they normally don’t sting and are safe around children and pets.
These bees are not affected by the mite that has devastated the honey bee population in the United States, and they do not mate with the aggressive African bees that have moved north from South America.INSTALLATION: Mason Bees like morning sunshine, so look for a south or east facing spot. A fence or wall or side of a building is good. Avoid a spot under a swaying branch since the bees don’t like dappled shade. Pick a spot well above ground, insert the nest into the mounting bracket, and use the included screws to mount the nest horizontally. Remove the plastic cap to expose the nesting tubes. There are more detailed instructions inside the cylinder, remove these for further reference.
GENERAL MASON BEE INFORMATION: Mason Bees are often referred to as solitary bees because they do not have a social order like honey bees and bumble bees. They do not have a queen or a hive and they do not make honey. However, they are perfectly happy making a nest right next to each other. Mason Bees are such effective pollinators because they have a lot of hair on their body which picks up pollen. Unlike honeybees which clean themselves after each visit to a flower and lose 90% of the pollen, the Mason Bees carry all of their pollen from flower to flower. Mason Bees tend not to sting because they are not a social bee and do not have a hive or a queen to protect. The only way to get one to sting is to squeeze it, and even then it probably won’t sting. Fortunately Mason Bees are not susceptible to the Varroa mite which has caused such havoc with honey bees all over north America.