Where do mason bees live? Discover the mason bee life cycle, mason bee predators and what you can do to help this gentle and productive pollinator.
Mason Bee Life Cycle
Mason bees are one of Mother Nature’s most productive and efficient pollinators, visiting over 2,000 blossoms daily. Their distinctive “belly-flopping” technique enables them to gather loose pollen on the little hairs on their body called scopa, resulting in an impressive 95 percent pollination rate compared to their honeybee cousins 5 percent rate. Unlike honeybees or bumblebees, mason bee species are solitary; every female is a queen. She lays all her own eggs, gathers her own food and finds a nest to lay her babies. Mason bees earned their name due to their adept nest-building skills, utilizing mud or other materials resembling “masonry” to lay their eggs. These gentle, non-stinging bees live and work independently, without producing honey or residing in hives. Their self-sufficiency makes them non-aggressive and incredibly easy to care for.
Watch ‘Life Cycle of a Mason Bee & How You Can Make an Impact’ – A two-year journey using a macro video lens. BEE AMAZED!
Where Do Mason Bees Live?
Mason bee mandibles are not strong enough to chew wood, so they rely on pre-existing nesting holes. In nature, this could include insect holes, hollow stems, woodpecker holes and cracks and crevices. A growing number of gardeners are installing bee hotels in their yards to attract these sweet little bees. However, many of these mason bee habitats may inadvertently pose a threat to mason bee populations, as their proper maintenance and care are often overlooked by well-intentioned individuals striving to support these important pollinators. When you set out a “bee hotel” to attract mason bees, you’re also attracting invasive predators. In nature, they find natural crevices in their environment that are camouflaged and harder for predators to find. But a bee hotel? It’s like hanging up a neon sign flashing “vacancy,” and you give predators an invitation to enter.
Researchers and industry leaders have observed a rise in predators and parasites, posing a significant threat to mason bee populations. Failing to address this issue could result in bee hotels becoming infested by these predators, endangering mason bee populations. Entomologist Abigail Lehner, from UC Davis in the Williams Bee Lab, has observed an increase in invasive parasites as a result of her studies. She points out, “Houdini flies and pollen mites are prevalent parasites we encounter in mason bee hotels. The only way to reduce the risk is to perform an annual cleaning and sterilization of the cocoons and bee houses.” She emphasizes that “The traditional method of using logs with holes drilled in them for nesting material is no longer suitable, and a change is necessary to care for mason bees properly.”
If you host mason bees in your yard, there are steps you can take to provide a healthy habitat.
Proper Care for Mason Bees
- Provide clean nesting material every spring: Pollen mites, chalkbrood and Houdini fly stay in nesting chambers and pose a threat to new generations.
- Use nesting material that can be easily opened: Avoid materials like bamboo or drilled logs, which encourage predator infestations. Instead, use stacking trays or cardboard tubes that can be unraveled.
- Nesting material does not stay out year-round: Mason bees have a short lifespan of 6-8 weeks, requiring the removal of nesting material at the end of spring to prevent summer predator infiltration. Learn how to store mason bees over summer.
- Open nesting material and eliminate predators: In the fall remove cocoons from the nesting chambers and eliminate invasive predators.
Mason bees are fast becoming the new bee to host in your backyard because of their gentle behavior and their efficient pollination skills. While some bee enthusiasts find fulfillment in the continuous care and cleaning of mason bees throughout the year, others may opt for a more hands-off approach. For those interested in supporting solitary bee populations and enhancing pollination in their yard without the responsibility of cleaning and storing mason bee cocoons during the winter, Rent Mason Bees provides a convenient program. In this program, you can release bees, rent nesting blocks, and they will provide you with everything you need to host mason bees and handle all the cleaning and maintenance for you.
Create a Pollinator Garden
Mason bees are spring pollinators and emerge from their cocoons when daytime temperatures reach 55 degrees. It’s around the same time you start to see dandelions bloom, which is why they are an important first food for spring pollinators. By planting spring blooming trees and flowers, you can support mason bees and other early pollinators. Discover the right plants to cultivate in your yard to bolster pollinator populations by exploring Pollinator Partnership’s beautiful Garden Cards and EcoRegional Guides tailored to your area, providing insights into what to plant to support pollinators. By establishing a habitat conducive to pollinators, you contribute not only to their well-being but also to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Thyra McKelvie runs the pollination program at Rent Mason Bees to help gardeners host solitary bees. Her passion is to educate and teach more people about solitary bees and the importance of taking care of all our pollinators.
