Mason Bee Nesting Tray Systems on Saturday, February 13, 2010

Want to increase the success rate of your mason bee blocks? A nesting tray system enables you to clean mites from bee cocoons to increase the colony health.

It is fairly easy to learn to “manage” your mason bee colony.  All you have to do is switch to nesting trays that can be opened up for access to the bee cocoons, and then wash the cocoons once a year.  Illustrated here is a mason bee nesting tray system that’s great for cocoon cleaning, and disposable tubes and paper liners that can make things easier, too.

Wash Cocoons:   Between October and December mason bees will not emerge from their cocoons, even when very warm.  Remove cocoons from each nesting tray cell and float them in a bowl of tepid water.  Move them around gently and debris sinks to the bottom.  Rinse cocoons in a sieve until the water runs clean.  Place them on a paper towel to inspect them for little orange spots, a sign of mites.  Re-wash cocoons until you see very few orange spots.  Air dry them on a paper towel for at least an hour. 

And while you’re washing your cocoons, it’s best to scrub your nesting trays with warm water and air dry them as well. 

Store Cleaned Cocoons:  Keep clean, dry mason bee cocoons in a cardboard box inside of a metal container.  Layer them between paper towels for cushioning.  Punch some holes in the metal container for air circulation.  By early February place cocoons outside in the “attic” of a bee house or in a container with a small hole from which bees can emerge.