Native Solitary / Mason Bees

If you are interested in beekeeping “without the sting”, Mason bees may be right for you and most landowners in our service area have the perfect environment attractive to the bees: a place to nest (a hole where they can crawl in, lay eggs, and cap with mud), flowers for food, and a source for mud. You probably are already a Mason bee landlord and don’t know it!

Mason bees are a group of solitary bees, many of which are native. Unlike the European honey bees, which form larger colonies and produce honey as well as serve as pollinators, mason bees are similar to bumble bees.

As the name may suggest, mason bees use mud to construct their nests in preexisting cavities.  Some popular nest locations are hollow stems, cracks in between stones, and cavities in wood.  When mason bees emerge from their nest, the females will mate and then will search for a new nesting site soon after.  She will collect pollen and nectar to create a mixture that is used as provisions for developing brood.  

 If you are interested in exploring more about Mason bees and their benefits as well as considering Mason bee housing on your property please give us a buzz. We offer turnkey Mason bee solutions from consulting to Mason bee condo sales, rental and installation.