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Mason bees?

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  • No I'm just on holiday! Originally from kent and now live in Warwickshire.
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Anyone had any hatch yet. Nothing here.
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    Pretty much all the ones I had that looked viable have hatched (I only had about 8 in total). Not sure where they went though! Zero mason bee activity in my bee houses.
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    edited July 2022
    Non of my cocoons have hatched yet. 




    Just as I thought the bees were avoiding my nest boxes this year, today I saw a leafcutter going into one of them. Then at the same time I saw a bee entering the George Pilkington box which they ignored last year


  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Pleased to discover this morning that some of my cocoons have hatched (whilst I wasn't looking) but I was there to watch this little one emerging (leaf cutter?). It spent some time cleaning itself and then without warning it suddenly took off at amazing speed and disappeared.


  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    They definitely don't hang around in my experience!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Interesting that it is now that they will start to nest.

    I have had  two George P boxes for a few years now - one atop the other. The old box is totally full (mason bees only), the other untouched ever. What does that tell you? No idea.
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    edited July 2022
    Fire said:
    Interesting that it is now that they will start to nest.

    I have had  two George P boxes for a few years now - one atop the other. The old box is totally full (mason bees only), the other untouched ever. What does that tell you? No idea.
    Strange isn't it. Whilst they have started to use my G Pilkington box for the first time, I have noticed bees entering a hole already occupied, with both bees flying out and having a little mid air fight.

    The two empty cocoons at the front of my photo, are they covered in pollen or mites?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited July 2022
    I don't know. I doubt. When the bees emerge there is lots of poo. There will be lots of clean up mites - whatever.
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    I think it's poo - I'm guessing but I thought maybe from their larva stage before they make their cocoon. When I've emptied bee houses, they are always covered in this stuff and I washed it all off. I think it might have explained it on masonbees.co.uk 
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