Using a staple gun, fit your hardware cloth over the front of the mason bee house, slightly curved outward about 1 inch off the surface to prevent longbeaked birds from eating your precious mason bee larvae. Perhaps the best known and most useful of these is the blue orchard bee, which is adorably referred to by the usda and others as bob. All you have to do is just release the mason bees directly from our provided box when your fruit trees begin to bloom each year. Orchard mason bee overview the orchard mason bee, osmia lignaria, is an effective early pollinator native to the western us and canada. Observation nests can be fashioned from transparent plastic or glass tubes placed in a box that can be opened for observation. Its the musthave book for everyone who wants to learn the basics about mason bees. The blue orchard mason bee is prized for its efficiency pollinating fruit trees and is native to north america. Mason bee houses, cocoons and leafcutter bees by beediverse. It describes the life history of this important spring pollinator and tells the reader how to propagate the orchard mason bee. Mason bees nest in premade holes and holenesting bees represent about. From the genus osmia, of the family megachilidae, mason bees are usually black or metallic bluegreen, though sometimes very brightly colored. The blue orchard mason bee osmia lignaria is a very productive pollinator for. How to manage the blue orchard bee how to manage the blue i.
Well, north america is home to a whole bunch of very different bee species beyond the honey bee, including those sometimes referred to as mason bees or leafcutter bees. Unlike honey bees, masons are small, black, nonterritorial bees, thus they are less likely to harm humans or pets. Orchard mason bees buy orchard mason bees buy beneficial. The optimal location to hang your mason bee house is 6 to 7 feet off the ground, preferably under an eave of your house, garage, shed or some other shelter. Become a beekeeper with mason bees and have the best native pollinator around. Accessories items you may need for your bees to be successful, such as nesting tubes, protective covers, and books to be. In recent years, the blue orchard bee bob has become established as an alternative orchard pollinator in north america.
The orchard bee association oba is dedicated to enhancing the use of native and naturalized bees in orchards throughout the world. For howto information on mason bee i wrote my popular book pollination with mason bees. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other masonry products in constructing their nests, which are made in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. They are related to other orchard pollinators like the leaf cutter bees featured in previous pollinator of the month highlights see leaf cutting bees. In late winter, hang your mason bee nest against a wall in a sunny location that has morning light. Mason bees are efficient pollinators because they collect nectar and pollen at the same time. The blue orchard bee, osmia lignaria, native to north america, has been developed as a pollinator for orchard crops. Two species of mason bees in the genus osmia are currently being used on a limited basis for tree fruit pollination.
When the egg is fixed onto the pile, the mother orchard mason bee builds a thin mud wall and seals off the egg. The gentle mason bee mason bees organic control, inc. Mason bee is a name now commonly used for species of bees in the genus osmia, of the family megachilidae. It is also known as the orchard mason bee because it uses mud to build its nests. The blue orchard bee gathers the pollen, but being dry, much of it falls off and as a result, they pollinate nearly every flower they visit. Our mission is to help the future of food production and promote the health and conservation of native mason bees that are critical pollinators to. It is found throughout most of north america, particularly in wooded areas but often around homes in towns and cities. Oct 12, 2018 the orchard mason bee keeping books and supplies on this page are offered for sale in association with.
The orchard mason bee, osmia lignaria, is an effective early pollinator native to. An excellent and concise introductory book for the orchard mason bee, a small solitary native bee that is easy to attract and makes a superb earlyseason pollinator. Sometimes called the orchard bee or blue orchard bee, these incredible nonaggressive bees dont even look like bees. Blue orchard bees can be purchased online for pollination, and they are. She fashions exquisite nests out of mud and pollen that resemble pieces of jewelry. A great way to start with this fun hobby is with a bee home, a book and mason bees. Shop mason bee distributor knox cellars mason bees. This primer has become a definitive text on keeping mason bees. The orchard mason bee the life history, biology, propagation. Griffin 1993, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. This book is a thorough guide to establishing a thriving mason bee population and pairs well with one of our orchard mason bee hives. Orchard mason bees may be the best thing that happens to your garden, even if you never heard of them. There are about 140 mason bee species in the united states.
There are many species of mason bees, 120 in north america alone. Mason bee food sources native bees, such as the mason bee, fly a short distance from their nests to the foraging area. The orchard mason bee is usually slightly smaller than a honey bee and a shiny dark blue in color. Home shop mason bee products accessories items you may need for your bees to be successful, such as nesting tubes, protective covers, and books to be a more informed beekeeper. His passion for bees grew rapidly, and by 1992 his study into the life of the orchard mason bee had turned into a full time business operation. The life history, biology, propagation, and use of a north am. One blue orchard bee can pollinate 2,000 blossoms in a single day, the equivalent of what 100 honeybees can do.
This fact makes mason bees the perfect candidate for pollinating early spring blossoms such as apple, peach and pear. The author, brian griffin, was a pioneer on the systematic management of mason bees for. This little book is a delightful recounting of the authors experiences in studying and propagating orchard mason bees using wooden nesting blocks. If using the bees for pollinating your fruit trees, wait until. A short but informative look at the life cycle of the orchard mason bee.
He has written a second book about native bees, humblebee bumblebee. Orchard mason bees osmia lignaria are great for pollinating fruit trees. Osmia lignaria, commonly known as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee, is a megachilid bee that makes nests in reeds and natural holes, creating individual cells for its brood that are separated by mud dividers. These bees are general pollinators and will gather pollen from most sources. One of the few native bees that has seen commercial use. Over the winter, reline the bee house holes with new parchment and reattach the back plate. Mason bees will be eager to emerge from their cocoons by midfebruary, earlier if you waited to put them in the refrigerator until january.
Set the mason bee house outside well before the orchard trees start flowering. The actual size of the bee depends largely upon the size of the hole in which it grew. With a strong preference for fruit trees, bobs are highly efficient pollinators. Nesting blocks, mason bee houses, mason bee tubes, sphagnum reed tubes, mason bee liners, mason bees, blue orchard bees, orchard mason bees, masonbees, orchard mason bees, native pollinators.
With this in mind, i designed a line of products for gardeners so that they can keep mason bees with success. The blue orchard mason bee, technically known as osmia lignaria, is an excellent pollinator. The orchard mason bee is a distinctive iridescent black, blue color. For individual book or supplly descriptions, content, prices, and availability, click on the items title. Mike waldvogel and patty alder, extension entomology another solitary bee that will show up within next two weeks and likely generate some attention from homeowners is the blue orchard mason bee, osmia lignaria. Add to cart this primer has become a definitive text on keeping mason bees. Mason bees also fly close to home within 500 ft half a km and pollinate all flowers present in the vicinity. Griffin has spent a long career in business, but has always found time to observe and enjoy nature.
The orchard mason bee book, brian griffin hiveandgarden. Preparing your mason bees for winter raintree nursery. A bee home plus mason bee cocoons is the easy way to get started with these friendly beneficial bees. Everything you need to know before keeping mason bees. A film, the orchard mason bee, depicting the life history and management of the orchard mason bee is available from the instructional media. Charming, instructive book describes the life history and propagation of osmia lignaria. Mason bee colonies can do over 200 times the pollinating of similarly sized honey bee colonies.
There are a number of bees, called mason bees, that are very good at pollinating fruit trees, so much so that they are also known as orchard bees. They are less famous than the european honey bee or the bumblebee, but they deserve our attention and admiration. Consider putting the cocoons out near or on the nest in early march. One orchard mason bee can do the work of 100 honeybees. Brian griffin has written a delightful and informative book about his discovery of the orchard mason bee and his subsequent research experiences. One of the hardest working and easily attracted to the garden is osmia lignaria, the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee. Welcome to the home orchard society if you are a serious orchardist or perhaps a curious hobby gardener, the home orchard society provides you with the best source of information and knowledge, mixed in the context of likeminded friendships, to make fruit growing an enriching experience. For many years he has propagated orchard mason bees. Orchard mason bee osu extension service oregon state. Our mason bee box comes with 20 or 100 of these amazing bees. Mason bees range in size but are typically about half the size of a honey bee, and they dont sting, so theyre an uncomplicated beneficial insect to invite into the garden. The incredible orchard mason bees lawn care academy.
Read on for everything you need to know before starting out. A female blue orchard bee is a multitasking master. About us mason bee distributor knox cellars mason bees. This book is a recitation of his experiences with and study of the orchard mason bee.
The blue orchard bee, osmia lignaria say figure 1, is a native solitary mason bee in the united states and canada. Spring mason bees, like the blue orchard or hornfaced bee, are bees that emerge from their cocoons when fruit trees begin to bud. We carry orchard mason bees, organic pesticides, organic herbicides and much more to help provide you with safe and nontoxic methods to control pests. The orchard mason bee osmia lignaria is a gentle beneficial insect that has potential as a pollinator of apples, cherries, and other tree fruits. These trees flower in the spring when it can be cool and wet, but mason bees dont mind such weather. Establish mason bee nesting units near their food source, as they have a limited feeding range of 100yards. It is of great interest for use as a native pollinator of fruit trees and blueberries, and is easily managed due to its favorable biological characteristics.
Active in much colder weather than some other bee species, allowing it to be more active in early spring. The home orchard society, established in 1975, is a. See more ideas about mason bees, bee and bee keeping. They do not sting as they dont have a hive or a queen to protect.
Since 2009, scientists, growers, solitary bee keepers, entrepreneurs, and students from around the world have been networking at an annual mason bee event. Everything you need to know before keeping mason bees bee built. Before luring mason bees into your garden, its helpful to understand some basics. Shop for vermontmade honey, lotion bars, tshirts and more from bee the change. The orchard mason bee keeping books and supplies on this page are offered for sale in association with. Since mason bees are solitary bees and do not make hives, they are always looking for a place to make a home. As a pollinator, it is far more efficient than the honeybee by transferring more pollen and visiting more types and numbers of flowers. This kit will help attract these beneficial bees to your garden. View our bees and bee supplies page to order bees, nest blocks, or books.
Griffins the orchard mason bee book as the mason bee bible. Watch this bee build her beejeweled nest deep look. They are tunnelnesting, solitary bees, which means that unlike the social honeybee, every female is a queen who lays eggs and raises offspring on her own, without the support of a highlyorganized, social colony. The latter was introduced by the usda into midatlantic region fruit orchards from japan in the 1990s. No other bee book addresses the topic with such depth and interest includes. Great for use in your yard or garden as mason bees are nonterritorial and thus less likely to harm humans or pets. The life history, biology, propagation, and use of a north american native bee by brian l. Brian griffin started the line of products by writing the book the orchard mason bee, which you can find in our online store.