Orchard Mason Bees

Orchard Mason Bees (post #12707)

TJK on Sat, 01/19/2008 - 22:02

Fruit and Berries

We live in Western Colorado and last Spring we had a dearth of bees. I don't know if it was the weather or the mite that decimated their hives, but while the trees were blooming hardly any honey bees were around. Our small orchard (15 trees) was almost barren of fruit compared to the year before when we had more apples and aprcots than we could use.

This year I'm going to put up a nest for orchard mason bees and I've ordered some cocoons to help get it started. Has anyone else here tried using these bees as pollinators?

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by the country gardener in reply to TJK [original] on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 01:20

TJK -

It seems you experienced the same decline in honeybees as most of the rest of the country. It has become a worrisome problem for many in agriculture who rely on bees to produce a crop.

I have a few clients who have introduced mason bees to pollinate their home orchards. One of the keys is patience; it takes awhile to establish a good population. Also they need a source of mud to build nests with; while they nest in wood, they cap each cell with the mud. They are not carpenter bees, so they don't excavate holes; but they do take advantage of any existing ones. I recall one of my clients emphasizing that he needed to mow every week when his trees were in bloom because they love dandelions and could be distracted from the apples. They are not aggressive unless handled roughly, a big plus over honeybees. I like that they are native too.

Marty

"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins

Marty

"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins

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by annieqst in reply to TJK [original] on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 16:08

I've had OMBs for years and years and because of them have always had a bumper crop. Scroll down the page and you'll see a little blurb on them: http://www.knoxcellars.com/ As there is no queen or hive, there is no need for protection. I've had my face right up to their tubes to watch and they just fly past me. They are the coloring of flies, but in bee form. Wonderful little creatures to watch. I highly recommend them!

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by roxanna in reply to Anonymous [original] on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 18:44

thanks for the website -- most interesting, and something i just may get into. =)

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by TJK in reply to Anonymous [original] on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 01:11

Thank you for that link. I've already ordered and received a nest block from a Canadian company, Beediverse. Their blocks are made from stacked plastic parts that can be easily cleaned and reused at the end of the season.

http://www.beediverse.com/

We live in a dry climate so I'll also need to provide a supply of clay mud near the nest during the Spring season. One of the web sites suggests using a gallon pail with small holes drilled in the bottom setting on a mound of clay soil. The water slowly drains out and keeps the clay moist for the busy bees.

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by annieqst in reply to Anonymous [original] on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 15:40

Here in the PNW moisture isn't an issue! :) I've never had to bother supplying clay (the garden is full of it) or mud. Good luck with your bees. You'll love watching them!

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by BDinMA in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 14:03

These sound really neat. From what I've read it sounds like these are naturally a spring pollinator though, not full season. How long do those of you who have them find that they're around? Does anyone artificially extend the season?

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by annieqst in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 17:12

I used to bring the tubes in late fall and put in my refrigerator and then bring them back outside early spring. Now I have too many so I leave them outside year-round. Depending on our weather they begin emerging mid-to-late March. By the end of June, the adults are dead and the eggs have been laid and sealed. For us in the PNW with chilly, wet springs, OMB are a godsend as honey bees do not like the inclement weather. Anything I would want pollinated (fruit trees and berry producing bushes) in my yard will have received the benefit of the bees by that time.

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by the country gardener in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 19:50

annie -

I've never had them myself, but a few of my cients have them for orchard pollination. Do you know if they are attracted to Holly bushes? Gerbera was asking about the lack of berries on her hollies yesterday in the general discussion section, and it seems there aren't any bees around her place right now; I suggested she check this thread out, and I'm curious myself as to how wide the mason bees' interest is?

Marty

"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins

Marty

"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins

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by annieqst in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 23:24

I'm sorry I don't know about holly. I don't think they are finicky, but am not sure. When they hatch here, all the spring flowers are starting to come on, so it is sweet pickin's for them. I know they do love pieris.

Edited 1/26/2008 5:25 pm by annieqst

Orchard Mason Bees