Mason Bees are solitary nesting bees. They are
usually quite calm and rarely sting. This mason bee is hanging onto
a redbud flower. There are as many as 200 species of native bees
that all get called mason bees. Mason bees can be very effective
pollinators. They are quite active and can pollinate as many as 10
times as many flowers as a honey bee can. We have had a severe
decline in the number of honeybees in our garden and an equivalent
increase in the numbers of these guys. In addition to collecting
pollen they eat decaying plant material.
I have put out mason bee houses in the hopes of
encouraging them. So far there is no evidence that they have been
interested in my constructions. Obviously the mason bees have found
some local logs or fences to nest in. The recommended mason bee
house construction calls for holes that are 5/16" in diameter, bored
most, but not all of the way, through the wood. The holes should be
spaced at least 3/4" apart. A roof is nice to keep the wood
from getting wet and shading the house. They prefer a South East
exposure. The houses can be painted but you should not use a wood
preservative as that may harm the bees.
