On 29/04/2014 09:16, Thomas Prufer wrote:
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 16:35:52 +0100, alan wrote:



What diameter and depth of hole do you use (well, offer to the bees)?


6 to 8mm diameter - 120mm long

There are two types of mason bees that will use (and reuse) them
Red Mason in the spring using mud as a construction material and Blue
Mason early Summer using chewed up leaves. The Red Mason prefer the
larger diameter.

When all the bees emerge there is an empty tube that is reused.

The tubes need to be sited to get the full sun for the longest part of
the day - NO dappled shade

Originally the card tubes I purchased were relatively cheap but now are
quite expensive. I have some success with black jumbo drinking straws
but the bees really do prefer something less slippery.

I believe when kept commercially the bees are removed from the tubes,
hence paper liners in the card tubes. I don't remove the bees from the
tubes year to year.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Red-Maso.../dp/0953990605
Book contains references to the now defunct Oxford Bee Company - so
references to suppliers of tubes/ boxes etc. are now not valid.



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