Mason bees are an invaluable spring pollinator. These solitary bees build their nests in various hollow stems and crevices, providing food and shelter to other pollinators.
Females select a nesting site, mark its entrance with her scent, and lay eggs there.
They collect pollen and nectar, packing it into their nest chamber until it’s full. Then the female lays an egg inside before sealing up the cell to create a new home.
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Plant Nectar & Pollen Friendly Flowers
It is essential to plant nectar and pollen-friendly flowers in your yard that will attract mason bees. This includes blooming at the right time of year (early spring and fall) with a range of flower colors.
Bees employ a range of strategies to locate flowers, such as color, scent, UV light patterns and nectar guides on petals. This helps them identify plants that provide both food and shelter.
Another crucial consideration for bees is flower size and shape. Single-petalled blooms are easy for bees to access, providing them with plenty of nectar and pollen.
When selecting plants for pollinators, steer clear of those with showy double or clustered flowers. Bees find these more difficult to navigate and provide less nectar and pollen than single-petal varieties.
Provide Nesting Materials
Mason bees are highly successful pollinators, 120 times more efficient than honey bees. They tend to be most active during early spring when flowers and bushes begin blooming.
Mason bees will come to your garden if you provide them with a place to build nesting tubes or mud tunnels. Make sure this area is dry, near an accessible mud source during spring and summer months.
Nesting materials that can be reused over multiple seasons are ideal. For instance, the inner layer of a mason bee’s nest tube should be removed and replaced once it has been filled with eggs or young larvae.
When not in use, store old mason bee nesting materials inside a plastic box with breathing holes if mice are an issue, or in either cheesecloth pouches or multiple layers of mosquito netting. Keep these containers warm and dry (e.g., tool shed or wood shed) until next spring when you can reuse them again.
Keep the Nest Safe
When feeding mason bees, your goal should be to keep them secure. Ants and parasitic wasps are two common pests that can attack these young bees while they’re developing. By placing out ant baits or traps or applying tangle foot around the nest, you can deter these insects and allow your mason bees to thrive.
Mason bee females lay eggs in a nest cell and then seal it shut with mud. This prevents the eggs from falling out while also adding to her nest structure.
Mason bee nests must be cleaned each fall to protect them from mites, chalk brood (a fungus that causes disease) and other insect pests. To sanitize, soak the tubes or trays in a solution of 15 ml bleach and 4 L of water for 15 minutes.
To provide your mason bees with a clean environment, store their nesting materials in an unheated garage or shed during winter. When spring arrives and the bees have emerged from their winter hibernation, hang the materials near fruit trees or other flowering plants to encourage them back into your garden.
Help the Bees Thrive
Native bees are essential to the world’s ecosystems and an effective pollinator of many crops. Unfortunately, their numbers have diminished due to habitat loss and widespread use of neonicotinoid pesticides.
Gardeners can assist bees in their vitality by cultivating plants that provide pollen and nectar. Native to your region, these plants are more likely to be beneficial for pollinators since they’ve evolved specifically for that purpose.
When purchasing fruits and vegetables, try to purchase them from farmers who practice organic farming. Doing so will guarantee your food is free from synthetic chemicals which could harm bees and other pollinators in your community.
Additionally, you can help the bees thrive by avoiding pesticides and fungicides. If you must use them, make sure they come from an organic retailer or farmer’s market that has certification.
