Mason Bee House Construction - Page 2

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:02 PM

And here's the finished Mason Bee Housing, ready for occupancy.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:03 PM

Here's a sample of the package that I got from an exchange with some forum members. Sorry for the blurry pics. You can buy Mason bees either as cocoons or in straws. If you got them in straws, I recommend that you open them, clean them up of other insects that may be hitchhiking and separate the cocoons. The best time to get the Mason Bee cocoons is during the winter season so that they can be shipped without hatching along the way. You can store them in the crisper bin of your fridge for as long as it takes you to build their houses, but don't forget them or they will die if left long enough, or when they hatch, there are no more flowers for them to feed on.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:03 PM

Gently pick up each cocoon, clean them up if there are dirt or other insects.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:03 PM

Then drop them unto each of the holes of the Mason Bee housing.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:04 PM

If some cocoons get stuck, you can gently push them with ear buds.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:04 PM

Then plug lightly with cotton.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:05 PM

Measure the center to center distance of the eyelet screws.

Place a pair of hooks under the eaves of the roof, separated from each other by the same distance as between the two eyelets. That side of the house where part of the roof gets morning sun is an ideal location. Specifically, away from foot traffic if possible.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:05 PM

Simply hang the Mason Bee Housing unto the roof.

Tadah! The finished housing, loaded and waiting for the warmth of spring.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:05 PM

If you don't have available spot on your roof, or the roof is not easily accessible, you can build a roofing over the Mason Bee House and secure it on the west fence. The West fence gets morning sun, and gets shaded in the hot afternoons. That's another ideal place, but would require you to build roofing over the housing especially if you have small cracks in the wood.

This housing is secured by a metal bracket.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:06 PM

Here's another sample of a Mason Bee housing. This one is modular and can be extended downwards as population grows to carrying capacity of your yard. You can practically build any housing configuration as long as the hole is 6" deep and the size fits that of your specific Mason Bee species.

JoeReal · 03-21-2008, 03:06 PM

Or you can go natural, using hollowed-out logs too.

Richard · 03-23-2008, 03:38 PM

The following attachment contains a PDF version of this tutorial:

cincinnana · 05-06-2022, 04:17 AM

I was amazed how quickly the bee house was discovered and put to use.
This is a great way to help pollinators.
https://cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/pollen-nation/

03-21-2008, 03:02 PM	#21 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction And here's the finished Mason Bee Housing, ready for occupancy.

03-21-2008, 03:03 PM	#22 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Here's a sample of the package that I got from an exchange with some forum members. Sorry for the blurry pics. You can buy Mason bees either as cocoons or in straws. If you got them in straws, I recommend that you open them, clean them up of other insects that may be hitchhiking and separate the cocoons. The best time to get the Mason Bee cocoons is during the winter season so that they can be shipped without hatching along the way. You can store them in the crisper bin of your fridge for as long as it takes you to build their houses, but don't forget them or they will die if left long enough, or when they hatch, there are no more flowers for them to feed on.

03-21-2008, 03:03 PM	#23 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Gently pick up each cocoon, clean them up if there are dirt or other insects.

03-21-2008, 03:03 PM	#24 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Then drop them unto each of the holes of the Mason Bee housing.

03-21-2008, 03:04 PM	#25 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction If some cocoons get stuck, you can gently push them with ear buds.

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03-21-2008, 03:04 PM	#26 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Then plug lightly with cotton.

03-21-2008, 03:05 PM	#27 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Measure the center to center distance of the eyelet screws. Place a pair of hooks under the eaves of the roof, separated from each other by the same distance as between the two eyelets. That side of the house where part of the roof gets morning sun is an ideal location. Specifically, away from foot traffic if possible.

03-21-2008, 03:05 PM	#28 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Simply hang the Mason Bee Housing unto the roof. Tadah! The finished housing, loaded and waiting for the warmth of spring.

03-21-2008, 03:05 PM	#29 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction If you don't have available spot on your roof, or the roof is not easily accessible, you can build a roofing over the Mason Bee House and secure it on the west fence. The West fence gets morning sun, and gets shaded in the hot afternoons. That's another ideal place, but would require you to build roofing over the housing especially if you have small cracks in the wood. This housing is secured by a metal bracket.

03-21-2008, 03:06 PM	#30 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Here's another sample of a Mason Bee housing. This one is modular and can be extended downwards as population grows to carrying capacity of your yard. You can practically build any housing configuration as long as the hole is 6" deep and the size fits that of your specific Mason Bee species.

03-21-2008, 03:06 PM	#31 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 456,563 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction Or you can go natural, using hollowed-out logs too.

03-23-2008, 03:38 PM	#32 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 636,574 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction The following attachment contains a PDF version of this tutorial: __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com Last edited by Richard : 03-04-2009 at 09:15 PM.

05-06-2022, 04:17 AM	#33 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,859 BananaBucks : 48 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,905 Times Was Thanked 11,759 Times in 4,905 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,956 Times	Re: Mason Bee House Construction I was amazed how quickly the bee house was discovered and put to use. This is a great way to help pollinators. https://cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/pollen-nation/ __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 05-06-2022 at 07:21 AM.

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