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Mason bees?

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  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Thanks. Anyone know when it's safe to unwrap the cardboard tubes to check for parasites etc? Don't want to do it until the cocoons are formed.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would wait until winter.
  • Just checked on a photo I took when I emptied last year - it was a year ago today! They were all fully formed. I've only got 4 tubes in total this year, not sure I can be bothered to empty them!
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Just checked on a photo I took when I emptied last year - it was a year ago today! They were all fully formed. I've only got 4 tubes in total this year, not sure I can be bothered to empty them!
    That's interesting. I still have bees going in & out of the tubes so I think Im going to wait until winter before I consider opening them up, just to be safe.
  • Yes I would leave if that's the case, my bees had long stopped going in.  The four blocked tubes I have have been that way for a few months now.
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    edited October 2021
    To protect the cardboard tube nest box from the winter rains, I've wedged it up in the rafters of my garage roof, the door is always open so any hatching bees can get out. It's nice and dry up there. Though just before spring I'll probably site it somewhere more appropriate.

    Just got to decide whether to unwrap the tubes to collect the cocoons, and if so when would be a good time?


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    A great feature with George Pilkington (of bee box fame), discussing wild bees.


  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Fire said:
    A great feature with George Pilkington (of bee box fame), discussing wild bees.


    Enjoyable programme. Would have liked to have seen the names of all the plants appear up on the screen as I couldn't quite catch what he was saying, what with his accent. I had to do lots of google searches based on what names I thought he had said.

    Like many programmes, despite being enjoyable to watch I thought some important detail was missed, such as giving us examples of what plants are useful to bees/insects at different times of the year, not clearly labeling/highlighting the plant names, and when scything his meadow he didn't explain about how to save/collect the seeds for next year before disposing of the cuttings etc.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think it was a more general programme - not specifically about gardening skills - only a two-parter. My thought when watching was that it would be great to have a garden skills-specific regular series running alongside GW on the details of wildlife gardening - looking at how to nurture specific plants and environments.

    I nearly always turn the subtitles on the programmes and films I watch (eg on iPlayer), especially when I want to hear detailed specifics. So much is missing without subtitles, esp with films, where about a quarter of dialogue is not audible at all.

    What were the plant names you didn't catch? Can you take screenshots?
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    I've had a fly living in my insect nest box for the last 3 months, he's definitely alive as I see him move. Didn't realise they hid away like this..


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