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Frequently Asked Questions

This section is dedicated for nature explorers who would like to find out more about our beloved bees. 

If you could’t find an answer to your question please email us or send your request via eBay account.

What is a mason bee?

Mason bees are known under few names – mason, masonry, solitary, mortar… We sell 2 species of this family – Red mason bee (Osmia rufa or Osmia bicornis) and Orchard white faced mason bee (Osmia cornuta).

Name reflects their habit of nesting using mud to build their nest cells and the fact they operate solely without creating colonies. 

They are common insects in UK gardens known as vital pollinators. 

Male mason bees hatch first, they are smaller in size and live only couple of weeks. After mating they die and complete their life cycle. 

Female mason bees are larger than males and start collecting pollen immediately after hatching. She needs sugar rich nectar to fuel all her activities and pollen as a source of protein to complete the maturation of eggs in her ovaries. Pollen and nectar is placed in the tube end, hole or cavity of any type and single egg is laid in it. Then female is sealing the cell with a mud. Cycle of egg developing into larvae begins again until cocoon is formed with a bee ready to hibernate over winter and hatch in spring. Each female is an individual nest builder and works alone. Each bee lays approximately 10-25 eggs starting from female eggs at the end of tubes or tunnels and male eggs at the front so male bees can fly out first in hatching season. 

One female mason bee can fill up approximately 2-4 tubes with eggs, depending on their length. Each cell created in tube os waterproof and resistant to bacteria and fungi. 

To complete the above life cycle bees have fly around all available flowers near the nesting place and collect pollen. That is their main task in helping gardeners and farmers in increasing the growth of fruits. 

Why people buy mason bees?

Mason bees help pollinate your plants and flowers. Declining European Honeybee population means people are looking for alternatives to harvest good amounts of fruits and vegetables. 

They also help with pest control agents and reduce number of wasps around your garden. 

Mason bees are also safe around kids and pets and although female mason bees have sting they are very gentle and only using it when provoked or threatened.

Some of our customers buy them just for the pleasure of watching their hard work and helping local environment, they just love buzzing insects and nature being present around.

When should you buy mason bee cocoons?

If you are familiar with insects of that type and know how to store cocoons over winter you can purchase them anytime from mid October from our eBay store. 

If you prefer to receive cocoons just before the hatching process starts you should delay your purchase till early February for orchard mason bees and late February for the red mason bees.

What is the difference between red mason bee and orchard mason bee?

Both types belong to solitary bee family.

 

Red mason bee (Osmia rufa/ bicornis) is the most common one, smaller in size. Their cocoons start hatching around mid/end March depending on temperatures outside. 

Orchard bee (Osmia cornuta) also called white faced or European is larger in size and needs slightly wider tubes to hatch. Cocoons open a bit earlier – mid Feb to mid March – again, depending on the weather conditions.

What is the difference between honeybees and solitary bees?

Solitary bees don’t produce honey or beeswax and don’t live in colonies or hives. Each female builds its own nest using natural holes, leaves, cracks or tubes / tunnels in insect hotels provided by gardeners. 

They also don’t or very rarely sting comparing to honey or bumblebees. Female mason bee’s sting is to weak to penetrate human’s skin. 

Mason bees are highly efficient pollinators and have shorter foraging ranges, can be active and pollinate even in colder weather when honeybees are not. They can also carry more pollen on their hairy little bodies. 

How do we pack and send live cocoons?

Your cocoons will be protected by cotton wool and packed in a small cardboard box secured from breaking in post. The box fits in the letterbox to guarantee receiving them in required time even if you’re not home. 

We post cocoons every Monday to minimise the time in transport and risk of them being affected by high temperatures. 

You will get approximately 50/50 ratio of females and males and a short leaflet with basic information and tips on storage.

How to store cocoons over winter if decided to buy in autumn?

We recommend storying cocoons in cold dry places like sheds, unheated garages or just outside. The more similar to outdoor conditions the better. They can’t get wet or be stored in direct sun. 

Although some people recommend fridge as the best place we don’t think that’s quite the case. Humidity is the key – they can’t dehydrate too much and dry fridge air may affect some of them. 

Also, please minimise possible contact with damp or pests. Keep away from kids and animals. 

 

Will bees nest in my garden once hatched from cocoons?

Yes, if you will provide tubes or insect hotel with tunnels you will make it easier for them and will have the pleasure of watching the nesting process. 

Even without tubes or manmade tunnels they will find natural cavities, holes, cracks in bricks or use natural plants shape to lay eggs and plug them with mud.

Where to place the cocoons at the start of hatching season in spring?

You can use the box we post in to store bees and release them from it – make 1-2cm holes in the cardboard top or side or just slightly open it so the bees that hatched can come out. Avoid opening the box wide or placing them loose. Unfortunately they are a tasty snack for birds and you don’t want to lose all before hatching. If that is your only option please protect with metal or plastic mesh just so birds can’t reach them. 

Alternative to our box can be a wooden case with holes or any material crate with holes. 

The main factor that encourages bee to start hatching out from the cocoon is a temperature – that’s why cocoons must be placed on the warm sunny side of the garden, best if protected with little roof or shelter from direct rain. 

What is the best type of mason bee house?

There is huge variety of mason be houses, insect hotels or tubes available to buy online or from local garden centres. 

In our opinion best are wild reed tubes with closed end and diameter between 6-8mm for red mason bees and 8-10mm for orchard mason bees. Many people use bamboo tubes which are also great alternative as long as not too wide and have closed end. 

Eco-friendly paper option is also popular – if you will decide for this choice or make tubes yourself please make sure to protect them from damp and rain.

Tunnels with above diameters made in wood are also great option but don’t allow you to take out cocoons before hatching.

Should you take ready cocoons out of the tubes they nest in?

That’s totally your decision depending on purpose of your bees. 

No – if you want to leave it to the nature and watch the cocoons hatch naturally one by one. The weakness of that option is slower hatching because the bee has to get out through a wall of mud to fly out. In some cases when faulty or defected cocoon is placed as first at the entrance to the tube it won’t allow the rest of healthy and perfect ones to fly out by ‘blocking the line’. 

Yes – if you want to make sure they will all easy release themselves, if you want to check their condition and size, if you are keeping bees to help on your farm, orchard or garden and relay on them as pollinators and want to maximise the hatching in next season. 

This way you can also share with friends or family and spread the bee love. 

 

If you will decide to take cocoons out you can do so anytime between September and February, depending on what storying conditions you can provide them. 

We advise to leave them in tubes outside till spring for the most natural process without too much impact.

What are the best plants for a bee-friendly garden?

Female bee will visit a wide range of flowers to collect pollen and nectar. 

Major source will always be fruit trees such as plum, apple, pear and cherry. Also all berry bushes that are in full bloom early spring. 

Selection of traditional garden flowers will also be fine for nectar – cranesbills, geraniums, wallflowers, stonecrops, sages, lavenders, comfreys, feverfew, mixed meadow flowers and many more. All the aromatic culinary herbs are also valuable forage for bees – thyme, oregano or horehound. 

What do you need to buy or provide once you have received your cocoons?

If you wish to organise a little bee corner in your garden please provide them with tubes or bee hotel with tunnels drilled in wood to watch and admire those busy pollinators and their life cycle. 

We will be selling some natural reed tubes in winter once harvested. 

We don’t offer bee hotels as yet, but the choice and variety online is massive. 

How do we make sure the product is safe and high quality?

Our cocoons have best possible conditions to grow and develop. Our garden is pests andchemicals free. 

All cocoons are carefully cleaned and checked before sending – in case of any defects they are removed from the stock dedicated for sale.