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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
On 20/04/2014 20:20, alan wrote:
My "colony" of solitary mason bees have emerged over the part few weeks. http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/bee/ http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/bee2/ Full instructions please. They're currently living in holes they've drilled in a disused chimney. I don't want this to continue - enough holes might matter. Andy |
#2
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
On 22/04/2014 20:52, Vir Campestris wrote:
On 20/04/2014 20:20, alan wrote: My "colony" of solitary mason bees have emerged over the part few weeks. http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/bee/ http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/bee2/ Full instructions please. They're currently living in holes they've drilled in a disused chimney. I don't want this to continue - enough holes might matter. Andy Different bees if they are drilling holes Mine are mason bees - they use mud to make compartments in reeds or holes drilled by OTHER insects. Even though they can sting they are very docile. They are solitary bees - no queen, no swarms, no honey etc. In a tube they make a compartment from mud, lay an egg, pack the compartment with pollen then seal it with more mud. Each of my tubes has 5 or 6 such compartments. The bees develop June to March using the pollen as food and then emerge this time of year. The end compartment is usually the male which emerges first and then hangs around for some reason until the females emerge. These bees are harmless and probably responsible for pollinating more plants than honey bees/bumble bees etc. They emerge just as my cherry tree flowers and I usually get a good crop. -- mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk |
#3
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
"alan" wrote in message ... On 22/04/2014 20:52, Vir Campestris wrote: On 20/04/2014 20:20, alan wrote: My "colony" of solitary mason bees have emerged over the part few weeks. http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/bee/ http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/bee2/ Full instructions please. They're currently living in holes they've drilled in a disused chimney. I don't want this to continue - enough holes might matter. Andy Different bees if they are drilling holes Mine are mason bees - they use mud to make compartments in reeds or holes drilled by OTHER insects. Even though they can sting they are very docile. They are solitary bees - no queen, no swarms, no honey etc. In a tube they make a compartment from mud, lay an egg, pack the compartment with pollen then seal it with more mud. Each of my tubes has 5 or 6 such compartments. The bees develop June to March using the pollen as food and then emerge this time of year. The end compartment is usually the male which emerges first and then hangs around for some reason until the females emerge. These bees are harmless and probably responsible for pollinating more plants than honey bees/bumble bees etc. They emerge just as my cherry tree flowers and I usually get a good crop. The birds get all my cherries :-( |
#4
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 16:35:52 +0100, alan wrote:
Mine are mason bees - they use mud to make compartments in reeds or holes drilled by OTHER insects. Even though they can sting they are very docile. They are solitary bees - no queen, no swarms, no honey etc. What diameter and depth of hole do you use (well, offer to the bees)? And woudl the bees reuse a hole -- lots of the commercail ones have some sort of inset or straw, and it that meant ot bechanged annually? Thomas Prufer |
#5
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
Thomas Prufer wrote:
What diameter and depth of hole do you use (well, offer to the bees)? I have a few, and have used off cuts of old garden canes 50mm to 80mm long, but run a drill through them to remove internal barriers. This gives a whole range of hole sizes, and interstices, so they can, and do, take their pick. And woudl the bees reuse a hole -- lots of the commercail ones have some sort of inset or straw, and it that meant ot bechanged annually? They certainly do reuse. I don't think the ones with straw are really aimed at bees. Chris -- Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK Plant amazing Acers. |
#6
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
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. -- mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk |
#7
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Mason Bees (was Bees, slightly OT)
In article , alan
scribeth thus 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. Have some of them (red) nesting in our garage walls most years, lovely looking bees... 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. -- Tony Sayer |
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