Considerations for Mason Bee House Placement
- Better on the south or east walls to catch the morning sun
- The nesting holes need to remain dry. Think about our rainy weather – too close to the splash zone is not good.
- Out of the prevailing winds
- Just under an overhang, too far back blocks the UV light needed to navigate
- A little higher than your head (so you can watch their activity)
- Can be placed in trees, fences, poles, etc. providing they do not move.
- Don’t place the mason bee house over a pond or water source
- Mason bee house should be placed within 200-300’ (65-90 m) of a pollen source
- Place the house away from your bird feeder- mason bees make tasty morsels.
- Mud (Actually quite important!)
Mason Bee Season
- MARCH – Place Cocoons outside in their emergence container in a protected place in your bee house or near it. Keep it dry. Mason bees like to wake up and get to work early, so an east facing location is ideal, but not imperative.
- JUNE 1 – Place bee blocks or tubes in a location protected from predators (wasps included). A garage or shed is ideal. Bees need to be warm during development.
- OCTOBER/NOVEMBER – Harvest and clean cocoons in a bleach solution and let dry thoroughly before storing. Store in a breathable container and place in refrigerator until the following March. Bees should be kept at a consistent cool temperature for optimal success. Clean and sterilize bee blocks or replace tube inserts before placing out the following season. Bee blocks can be sterilized in a 200° oven for 8 hours.
- NOVEMBER-FEBRUARY – Keep cocoons in refrigerator to keep them dormant until March. Fluctuations in temperature cause bee metabolism to cycle up and down, using up precious fat stores needed for success in spring.
- MARCH – Place cocoons out in Mason Bee House with nesting material.
Want to learn more? I recommend this article by Brooke Edmunds, Richard Little, and Ramesh Sagill, published by the Oregon State University Extension Service: