Mason bees in SE Michigan
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8 years ago
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mickeymantle
8 years agoUser
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Ground bees
Comments (68)I would love to have more pollinators and I garden organically and plant specifically to attract them. I haven't had a problem with Ground dwelling bees at this point. Just a few paper wasps that try to move in to the underside of the canopy over our front door every year. I keep my eye out for them and knock it down while it is still small and they move on. And I've been gardening here 30+ years. It's pretty sad that there aren't enough pollinators even when I am offering an environment that is pollinator friendly. I have berry bushes in the yard and strawberries, that are not developing berries from all the flowers on them. Still, I remember my brother running over a bee hive with the lawnmower when we were kids. A very unpleasant experience that can effect the way you feel about bees for a long time. So, I can understand the concern people have for colonies in their lawn, which you cannot avoid. I wonder why they chose the lawn? Is it because there is a bare patch or what? Is there a way to make your lawn a less hospitable site for a nest? Jessica, I love your idea about keeping the site wet because they like dry. I guess I would try running the sprinkler constantly to see if that would get them to move on. I've done that with ant colonies and it worked well. I guess there is no way of relocating them either? Another question I have, for those who see a nest of bees as a challenge and are willing to poison them. I wonder if you have ever tried to grow food? I don't think most people in general are aware of how challenged our food supply is and how much of a problem that could end up being with dwindling numbers of bees. I've actually come across an organization that is exploring some kind of 'food substitute' and calling it 'Soylent Green' based on a movie of the same name. That concerns me, that there are people who have recognized how bad things could get and now consider it a real possibility that we won't have food in the supermarkets. Or be able to grow it ourselves. Something to think about....See MoreMason bee systems - different styles, good and bad
Comments (50)This is a fantastic thread and thank you to all of the contributors! I find mason bees fascinating. I would like to expand my mason bee housing, I only started last year. I have a couple of questions for DIY houses. I think I would like to go the paper tube route. It seems parchment paper seems to work perhaps better than brown paper bag? I have bags but easily can buy a roll of parchment if it fairs better with moisture (pacific north west). Drilling hole size if I used a solid wood block: If I use parchment, do I drill 5/16" still. With paper bag, do I drill 3/8" as the paper takes up space or still go 5/16". I am going to buy a long drill bit (about 16") and use my drill press to get deep holes. Don't really want to buy 2 bits :) . My other option is to rip 5/16" square grooves in 1" think boards and then line with tubes. The tubes will prevent the spread of mites etc between wood layers correct? This is far faster for me (rip the grooves vs. drilling a solid block) and I already have the dado blade and table saw, as well as the wood. Comments and suggestions greatly appreciated!...See Morebest sources for bees - hives Michigan
Comments (1)I would contact MSU, maybe the entomology department, or one of the extension service offices. They can point you in the right direction. Or, Google Michigan Bee Hives. Are you thinking of having your own hive, or renting one? Have you heard about Mason Bees? They are even more efficient at pollinating fruit trees than honey bees, and they are less likely to die from Colony Collapse or mites, etc. Martha...See MoreBees are no shows
Comments (6)I'm having trouble with my mason bees -- either they didn't like the nesting material I put out or the location of the nesting shelter. I know they were out and about because I saw a lot of them by the nesting tubes but after a while...nothing. I figure they took up residence elsewhere. I've seen a lot of carpenter bees making holes in the log siding(time to call the exterminator again...sigh...) and the bumbles. Even a few swallowtail. So things looking pretty good here on that front so far. It could have been the Sevin, but I don't really know enough about it -- wouldn't the bees have to have been exposed to the pesticide in some way? So if it were limited to the trees and there was little drift, only the bees in/around the trees would have been affected, right? But I'm not sure. It could also be the wacko weather -- we got really cold last week, down into the 30s (!), now another stretch of heat wave, the insects might be sensitive to the crazy swings to at least some degree. Honeys and bumbles don't fly if it's too cold (which is why masons are better pollinators for spring fruit crops), not sure if they fly when it's above a certain temp -- would be interesting to find out, I should look it up....See MoreUser
8 years ago
gardenbear1
8 years agomickeymantle
8 years ago
theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser thanked theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)User
8 years agoUser
8 years agoCharlie
8 years agoUser
8 years ago
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