Last year I cut some teasel stems to make nesting tubes for mason bees, and put them out under an eave. Nearly all of the tubes were used. The bundle started falling apart this winter so I brought it into the garage in December. Today I noticed some buzzing in the bag of tubes and sure enough, it was full of bees.
I took them outside, of course.
Just thought you all might like to know that at least a few mason bees are active already.
Dave
I keep mine in a garden shed and have never had any hatch before late March. I too would suspect your garage is too warm, although I will keep an eye on the tubes in my garden shed.
By the way, great idea on using Teasel stems. What a nice, natural and practical way to go. I'll keep my eyes open for dried-up Teasel plants this Fall.
We're new to the bees; this is our second season. We had them in a tool room under the house, but I got nervous about this warm weather and moved them to a refrigerator. I figured I'd put them out as soon as my trees bloomed, or first week of March. Hope they don't wake up in the fridge! 
Yes I did not mean to leave them in the garage this long.
Today I noticed several of the bees coming back into the garage, apparently looking for the tubes. Do they return to the tubes if they figure out that there are no flowers yet?
I made some tube bundles out of both teasel and bamboo this year. The bamboo stems are much longer but easier to work with because they don't have spines like the teasel.
What is probably happening is this. The bees had probably been emerging for a week or so and subsequently started setting up house. This of course includes, mating, orienting to their natal nest and going out foraging. Then you see observe them coming into the garage searching for their nests. I would replace a few nests where you had the nest in the garage. at least these mason bees will produce some offspring for you. Once a mason bee chooses a nest site, I dont know if it is possible to get her re-oriented to another location.
I have many crabapples blooming now. Apples should be soon. I can see pink. I would want my mason bees to wake up before now because Cornus mas is done. Japanese plums are mostly over.Asian pears are more than half way, Europears completely open. The quince flowers want some love! I want them to pollinate all my fruit, not just my apples. Maybe I should "trick" them into waking up earlier by putting one set in the sun/garage so that they'll wake up earlier and go to work!
John s
PDX OR
Well after my screw-up this winter (moving the tubes into the garage, causing the bees to hatch around Feb. 20), I have made some new tube bundles using teasel and bamboo stems and tied them more securely. I placed them on Saturday, we'll see if the bees like them as much as last year.
Also BTW I was a little concerned about predation by birds on the teasel stems but it does not look like any birds tried to get the bees.
A few tips on assembling the bundles:
- I like to cut the teasel when it is still a bit green. If you cut when it is really dead, it tends to crack.
- Be sure to cut right above or below the stem joint. You are trying to make tubes that are closed on one end.
- The bamboo stems are much longer than the teasel stems (at least the type of bamboo I used).
- Use gloves when handling the teasel, it has tiny spines all over it.
- To assemble the bundle, get a few large rubber bands and some larger stretchy cord (I use black rubber tie-downs that you see on the roadside, and also bungee cord). Find a short bucket or can that is just a bit shorter than your shortest stems. Place the stems open end down in the bucket until you fill the bucket (or you run out of stems). Note that the stems will be all different lengths, which is fine. Place the rubber bands around the bundle to hold it together while you're adding the stretchy cord. After you have the "permanent" stretchy cord around the bundle and tied it off, you can remove the rubber bands (they won't last long outside). You can of course use twine instead of stretchy cord, but it is really hard to get it to stay tight. If you tie off the twine then stuff in a few more tubes you can get it pretty tight, but as you handle the bundle it gets more loose. But if you use enough loops of twine it will stay together fine.
I am trying to come up with a design/method for these that can be easily put together by school kids who would place them on a nearby wildlife refuge. They would get no maintenance (i.e. used by bees 1 or 2 times) so all components would need to be biodegradable. I am thinking that waxed twine might be easier to work with and would last a few years, but not forever. These would be placed in brush piles and tied to shrubs, so they would need some kind of rain protection - but I haven't figured out that part yet. Maybe cedar bark or something? Or maybe make a little roof out of cedar fence boards, which could be refilled with stems every couple of years. Let me know if you have any ideas. The requirements are:
- Easy & cheap to make
- Fairly natural-looking
- Would decompose eventually (i.e. OK if they are neglected/lost - would not trash the refuge)
- Mason bees would use them successfully (i.e. would increase the local native bee population)
FYI here are the bundles from last year: http://outdoors.webshots.com/s.....4975jXnIlf
I'll post some photos of the new bundles.
Thanks!
Dipsacus fullonum - Common teasel. It is a non-native invasive plant that crowds out other plants. Hopefully no local nurseries carry it!
Just watch for it along the roadsides in your neighborhood. I usually cut it at the end of summer.
[quote="John S":1roe35n9]Does anyone know the latin/scientific name of teasel? Are there local nurseries where we could buy it?
Thanks
John S
PDX OR[/quote:1roe35n9]
I added a bunch more teasel and bamboo stems. Here are the bees using them on 4/17.
This bee found some yellow pollen...
More here: http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz23 ... =slideshow
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
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