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Mason bees?

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  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    The willow trees are providing a feast for bees right now so as long as there's a few of them around they should find enough. Coltsfoot is an early favourite here so I try to encourage that where I can and the hellebores are always popular. A big bee was banging on the window today after the jar of daffs on the window sill though so maybe pickings are slim though. Not many gardens around here bother with flowers and I can't cater for everyone.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    No williows very near by but cherry will hopefully offer something. I'm not sure if masons are into hellebores.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    There was a big queen wasp enjoying the hellebores yesterday.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • I hope your bees will be ok @Fire, was -1°c here this morning. I cleaned out a bee house yesterday which I actually thought was empty but there were some cocoons at the back. They look deformed compared to normal though! I've put in a pot in the shed for now, will see if anything comes out, unlikely to be before next month though.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I'm seeing quite a few videos that recommend using baking parchment to make the tube inserts. Much cheaper than the cardboard ones you buy.
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Today I put the remainder of the cocoons from last years mason and leaf cutter tubes into the release chamber of my G.Pilkington box..






  • I'd like to know if your leafcutters hatch successfully, not one of mine did last year whereas the masons did.
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    I'd like to know if your leafcutters hatch successfully, not one of mine did last year whereas the masons did.
    I'll let you know, I check on them every day.
  • My bee house has been up five minutes and just like last year, the wasps have commandeered it  :/. I am trying to be more charitable to them this year as I know they have their uses and lives to lead but I really wish they'd stay out of this house, I can't imagine I'm going to get any nest mason bees with them in there.

  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    My bee house has been up five minutes and just like last year, the wasps have commandeered it  :/. I am trying to be more charitable to them this year as I know they have their uses and lives to lead but I really wish they'd stay out of this house, I can't imagine I'm going to get any nest mason bees with them in there.

    I'd probably feel the same way too, but as you already know, they will be just as fascinating and important as bees but for some reason we instinctively dislike them don't we, strange really. Maybe because they aren't as cute? 
    I wonder if they will make individual chambers like mason bees do?
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