John,
I'm sorry I don't remember the answer off hand. I did a quick Google search and only read "In the Fall".
I had checked out 2 or 3 books from the library this past winter and had read all about it. I guess I'll have to do it again soon if nobody replies. One of them is titled "Pollination with Mason Bees".
I have the stacking trays from Beediverse, and I intend to bring them and in to clean the caccoons before setting the block back out.
I bought bees in tubes this spring to get things seeded, but I didn't do anything special to prevent the bees from returning to the tubes and I don't know if they did.
You need not put your mason bees into a fridge. And certainly not at this time. If you really want to refrigerate them wait until November 1st since at that time the larvae will have pupated, developed into full grown bees, and are ready for complete hibernation. I just keep mine in an unheated garden shed and they do fine. But it doesn't get very cold here either. The only reason to refrigerate them is if the outdoor temperatures are too warm or cold for proper hibernation. Or if you are trying to delay emergence for coinciding with some crop bloom.
For protection from parasites and predators, I just bring the mason bee "houses" into my garden shed as soon as each one is filled. I do this extremely gently, slowly and carefully as to not disturb the residents, as they don't like bumps or sudden movements. Think like your moving a tray of wine glasses containing nitro glycerine.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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