Raising Mason Bees
Nature's Ultimate Pollinator
Why Mason Bees?
If you are a backyard gardener in North America you may have noticed a deline in your fruit production. Over the past 5 years in many city and surburb gardens, inadequate pollination has been the cause for few and smaller fruit . This is because we have depended on the wild honey bee for pollination and now, thier colonies have been decimated by two parasitic mites.
Fortunately, native mason bees can help restore former productivity of your fruit trees, blueberries, and raspberries. Only 2-3 females are required to pollinate an entire mature apple tree! Simply, provie a nest for mason bees and they will reproduce and pollinate your fruti trees. Mason Bees are solitary, shy and are smaller than a honey bee. They make excellent garden pets as they are safe for children and animals.
Why are Bees Important?
Pollination is key to fertilizing the flowers that eventually produce fruit. The more pollen delivered to a flower, the larger the fruit. Bees depend on flower's pollen to feed themselves and their young and while collecting pollen, many grains are deposited onto the flower resulting in fertilization. Mason Bees are very efficient pollinators - one female bee will visit 750 flowers in one day!
Mason Bees at Senga's Design Studio
Below I describe how to house, feed and mange mason bees in my garden. We put out the coccoons in late March and will keep you updated throughout the season. For more information and a kit : www.masonbeehomes.com
