Orchard Mason Bees / Cocoons Cleaning Using Sand Part 1

This Is our way of cleaning orchard mason bees in cocoons with the use of sand. This method was first created by Hutchings Bee Service. If you have any questions on this video please comment. Thanks

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mason bees finished part 1
• orchard mason bees
• bees
• orchard mason
• cleaning of bees

[1946eugene]

How late in fall do you need to wait to do the cleaning method?

[hutchingsbeeservice]

You can do it pretty much anytime between late October and late January, depending on your area. You just can't do it in an unusually warm area that could mimic Spring for instance, otherwise the bees might start emerging. I would keep the clean cocoons outside instead of fridge if earlier in the year. This can dessicate them and you may get some mortality. I never use a fridge unless it's close to the normal time of emergence. Good luck.

[MrTimbo48]

After taking the cocoons out, do you clean your hive bodies in any way?

[hutchingsbeeservice]

I strip the Hutchings Peek-a-Boo covers off and wash in the dishwater when I'm finished cleaning the dishes. The trays themselves, I scrub with a wire brush then can wash again with a non-residue leaving cleaner like acetone or methyl hydrate, not very much, but just enough to kill any mould and/or mite action. Some folks prefer soapy water but it depends on the state of the wood. I sand down any rough edges and re-set everything and re-assemble ready for next year.

Thanks for your question.

[SeattleGreen1]

I tried this method for cleaning about 60 bee cocoons this weekend, and it was a cinch.

It was easier than the bleach method , and actually a lot cleaner as well. Sift, toss in sand for 30 seconds, sift again, done. No messy sink, no having to dry the cocoons on the counter.

I looked at the cocoons with 30X magnification afterwards and didn't see any mites.

Definitely a great technique that I will use again next year. Thanks!

[hutchingsbeeservice]

Yup, using the magnifier is the clincer I know. We've used our dissecting scope and inspected our cocoons after the bleach method and still found living mites clinging to them. Next step is to get a small amount of 100% bleach and put some live mites on the surface then check them in a few hours, or the next day. We still found them alive!

Glad it worked for and thanks so much for posting.

[robomantis]

I want the nests you have but don't have the tools to make them.

[1946eugene]

Thanks, I will wait till it gets cold.

[138hotdog]

Really like the video a lot of very good infomation would like to see maybe a quick break down on the boxes help me stop the pit falls for first time makers and the idea of showing others these little guy's living really had a postive response

[hutchingsbeeservice]

Further, if the bee's activity was interrupted with say, a death, an intercalary cell would be produced by the next usurping female. I documented this in my findings.

Excellent question again. Something I can't cover in the video. Maybe I shoud do more, but want better quality.