Orchard Mason Bee House

It's easy and can be made with recycled materials.

Materials needed:

1 waxed milk carton or juice container, non-transparent (or anything that is waterproof)

Screws

15 Paper Bee Straws *

2 rubber bands

Wood Glue

Newspaper

Foam (or any soft stuffing for insulation)

Prepare the bee house as follows:

Screw a one liter waxed milk or juice container to the outside of your garage, shed, or house wall.  Be sure to place it in a sheltered spot out of the wind. These nests are best attached to a sunny, southern or eastern location, close to your garden so these bees can pollinate your fruit trees and garden. The height is not that important, the bees seem to nest in straws anywhere from three to 20' above ground, but put it at eye level so you can watch the bees in action.

Cut the straws approximately in half (some slightly less than 6" and some slightly more than 6") and bundle the straws together with an elastic band. Note that the uneven length of nesting straws is a cue for bees to find their nest.

Cut five x 6" squares of newspaper and glue them around the bundle for the first layer of insulation. Place another rubber band over the newspaper to keep it snug. Wrap the bundle with foam to insulate the bees from extreme cold and heat. Insert the bundle of straws and insulation, as one unit, into the waterproof container. If there is extra room around the straws, fill it with more foam.

Each female orchard mason bee will use about two and a half of the six inch straws per season. To increase the chance of bees finding your homemade condo, you can decorate your nest with pale colored paint, but do not use any type of wood stain. In addition you could color the end of a few of the nesting straws to make active nesting straws easier to locate for returning bees.

In mild winter areas (Zone 7+) you can leave the nests outside all year round. You could move them to a more sheltered spot out of the worst of the rain and snow and move them back to your ideal spot in mid February. Each year, provide more empty straws for new nests.

* Bee Straws - Present research conducted in the Pacific North West has emphasized the importance of paper insert tubes when raising Orchard Mason Bees. They allow the maturing bees to develop in a clean environment, they allow for easy inspection of infection, and they also prolong the life of your Bee House.

For more information on raising bees, we suggest:

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