Jim,
What do I need to order in support of the Mason Bees?
				~Joseph, Arkansas

Joseph,
   My recommendation is that you put up some housing, make sure it is installed prior to the 
emergence of mason bees in your area and let it self populate. 
That way you'll end up with mason bees that are already adapted to your local climate.
I would also recommend either a book or DVD that would explain a bit about the life cycle 
of the mason bees and how to manage them.They don't require very much management, but a 
little bit can go a long way.The book is cheaper, but I'm a visual guy. 
I found the DVD more helpful.The DVD sells for $22.50.The book is $12.95.
I wouldn't recommend buying cocoons unless you are unsuccessful in attracting bees to nest
in your blocks your first season.
The nest blocks are stackable plastic trays that can easily be taken apart in the  fall 
to facilitate the harvest and cleaning of cocoons.The least expensive house is called a 
Mason Bee Lodge and sells for $22.50.We have one called the Royal House that comes with a 
predator guard, and an “attic” space to store clean cocoons,and sells for $36.95.Our top 
of the line house is the Highrise which is much larger and has 72 nest holes as opposed to the 30
in the Lodge and Royal House.The High Rise sells for $54.95.How much housing you need depends
on the number and size of your fruit trees and is a rather complex question.It takes about
15 mason bee females to pollinate a standard apple or cherry tree.If you have dwarf or 
semi-dwarf trees than that is reduced somewhat.
Also you need to consider how many of your trees are blooming at the same time. 
If you have six trees, but only two are blooming at a time, you would only count 
that as two trees for the purpose of computing the number of bees you need.Our 
standard nest block has about 30 holes which is enough nest space for about eight
or nine female mason bees.The Highrise provides enough nest holes for about 20 mason
 bee females.  The male bees don't pollinate the fruit blossoms so they don't 
enter into the equation.
Contact your local cooperative extension office to learn when the bees will emerge 
in your area.It would also be advisable to make sure you have some early blooming 
landscape plants that provide good forage for the mason bees. Unlike honeybees, mason 
bees will only travel about 100 yards from the nest to forage. They won't
nest in your housing if there isn't a good food supply nearby. In our area Pieres 
Japonica is a great landscape plant to attract mason bees.  It is always in bloom 
several weeks before the bees begin to emerge so it keeps them in the neighborhood if 
they come out before the tree fruit begins to bloom.

					Saturday, November 15, 2008