Dave's Bees.com - Building a Mason Bee Nest Block

How to build a mason bee nest block. In most areas of the country you can just put this box up in the spring and the bees will find it and move in.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• beekeeping
• nest tubes
• davesbees.com

[hmalaby]

Dave thanks for the idea. I have made several of these and put them into use. They work great and I like the idea that I can line them - easy as you have shown - and look forward to sharing with friends. I have one young girl who is interested and she will be able to use this in a school project. Thanks again :)

[DavesBeesvideos]

@hmalaby School project... fantastic idea. They are so easy to build and use for educational purposes. Once you get started and marvel at what they are doing, you can’t help getting a step closer to nature. Where do they get the pollen? How do plants make pollen? How do plants grow? How does the soil nourish the plant and the plant the soil? What lives in the soil? And most importantly how do chemicals affect the mason bees, these interconnected systems, and ultimately all of us?

[DavesBeesvideos]

@hmalaby Thank you as well Harold. I checked out your video, very cool High Rise! I really think this is the easiest way to keep mason bees and it eliminates all the cleaning and handling. It provides the bees with a sanitary nest site each season with no chemical use at all. The tubes are easy to open and inspect if that is your fancy, especially for those just learning about Mason bees.

[mmeds11]

IMHO this is the best style of mason bee house, with instructions.

masonbee.blogspot.com

[DavesBeesvideos]

@mmeds11 I agree. No complicated tools or procedures. No cleaning of tubes or cocoons. No wire brushing. No bleaching and washing. The bees emerge naturally from the tubes at the appropriate time and have a tendency to stay nearby. Nowhere in nature are mason bee cocoons collected and cleaned. I really like the natural simplicity of the mason bees doing all the work and all I have to do is add clean tubes each year. Thanks Matt

[DavesBeesvideos]

The tubes are for one season. You do not want to disturb the tubes as soon as they are filled. If you need more space then you need more blocks. I still have blocks hanging up from last season that I will take down and store soon. The tubes will be removed during the winter and kept in a box for release in the spring. This is when you put new parchment paper in block for next year. I have complete Mason bee nest block instructions at my website - davesbees.

[robomantis]

After they fill the holes do you remove the parchment paper and put more in so the holes can be reused?

[DavesBeesvideos]

Soxnes,

If you have trees you have bees. You may get a pest or two in the nest block but mostly mason bees. It is a worthwhile endeavor to build a block and put it up. Dont forget to make sure there is a mud source nearby. If you build it they will come!

Dave

[soxnes]

will only mason bees move into the holes or will other insects because i dont want to make one if only spiders or wasps will move in. o i live in utah do they even live here?

[wildberrymangmail]

excellent