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Fruit & Orchards

Bee-block hole-size?

15 years ago

I was talking to a local orchard owner near me and he suggested a way to increase pollination and bee numbers in the orchard was to hang blocks of wood in the trees with holes drilled into them. The idea is that the bees would use the holes as nesting cavities (I think) and would therefore be very close to all the blooming fruit trees.

Does anyone do this?

What size holes should I drill in the blocks of wood?

Thanks,

Bart

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Comments (7)

murkwell
15 years ago
I think 5/16" diameter about 6" deep is what I've been told is best for the Orchard Mason Bees in the Pacific NW.

I'm not sure actually in the tree is the best place. The block needs to be somewhere that it won't be jostled by wind or creatures. The eggs are laid directly on top of their food ration and should the egg or larvae fall off they are unable to feed and will die.

I suppose if your trees are large enough that you can firmly attach the blocks they may be OK.
flyboy
15 years ago
To take murky's post a bit further.

5/16th is indeed the recommended size for attracting Mason Orchard Bees. The depth of the hole is somewhat important. Too shallow a hole and you may get nests consisting mostly of male bees and it's the females who are the pollenatin' machines. Also, the experts recommend drilling the holes with a percision drill bit. I think it's called a pilot point bit. It makes a very smooth hole which the bees seem to prefer.

Final point. These nesting blocks need to be anchored. If they move around, the bees will not use them. A lot of people recommend east facing orientation. And also you need to have a supply of mud around for them to use to build their nests.

The best things about these lovely little solitary bees are they are superior pollenators, non-agressive, and will work in colder, drearier weather than regular honey bees, highly desirably for things like cherries, apricots and other early bloomers.

Don
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tcstoehr
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Right, do not hang them in the trees. The swaying motion in the wind is no good and bumping against branches is very disturbing to the adults and larvae inside. Getting wet is also no good for several reasons. Attach it to a house or shed or some rain protected spot that cathes some morning or mid day sun if possible. Keep it as close as possible to the trees but 200 feet away is still fine.
I find drilled wood blocks to be difficult for the bees to use cuz theres always splinters and fibers standing up inside the holes, especially after being left outside for some time. I like to use cardboard tubes inserted into cedar and copper structures that I've put together. Bamboo is also fun for this purpose if you can find bamboo with 1/4 - 3/8 diameter interiors. Or drill them out yourself as I have done. See picture below.
murkwell
15 years ago
Those look really nice. What fills the smaller holes?

The cardboard tubes seem expensive to me. Maybe I'm just cheap. I bought a house that is a stack of interlocking plastic trays that can pull apart for cleaning and to inspect and remove the cacoons.
tcstoehr
15 years ago
I get the cardboard tubes for free, and then give them back full of bees. If it wasn't for that, I'd stick to the bamboo pieces.

The small holes, 1/8 inch, are filled by a little wasp that eats aphids. I didn't know if it would work but sure enough I can see little wasps return to these holes with an aphid in their tiny jaws on each trip. It's interesting to see what happens when you drill holes in wood. If you drill it... they will come.
murkwell
15 years ago
Oh, that makes sense tcstoehr,

I probably have some of the progeny of yuor bees flying around in my yard now since I bought mine from the HOS.
jellyman
15 years ago
Bart:

Note that the favorable comments on orchard mason bees come from the Northwest of the country, because that is where they work best. They do not work in the Mid-Atlantic Mid-South, or South of the country, where they quickly die out. I conducted a fairly expensive experiment with them several years ago, buying the tubes, boring redwood blocks, etc., all to no avail.

They are sure right about the 5/16 hole size and depth, and hanging the blocks under the eaves of a shed or other protected place. Go ahead and try them if you like. It will result in the transfer of funds from your pocket to that of an orchard mason bee producer in the Northwest, and that's about all.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

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