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What are these larva in my Mason Bee nests?
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TreeBeard
3 Posts
(Offline)
1
March 18, 2023 - 12:10 pm

I was cleaning my mason bee cocoons (I know, it's the wrong time of year to do this) and I found some strange cocoons among the bees (see photo below).  On the left are bee cocoons, on the right are the odd ones.  They are  dark brown, cylindrical, and have a tan tip on one end.  The are made of a papery material, rather than silk.  Any ideas what they are?

 

Thanks for any help!

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Larry_G
185 Posts
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2
March 19, 2023 - 11:04 am

The image does not appear in my browser, just the outline.

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John S
PDX OR
2800 Posts
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3
March 19, 2023 - 5:42 pm

I am having the same problem as Larry G.

John S

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Chris M
Philomath, OR
135 Posts
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4
March 20, 2023 - 7:15 pm

Same problem

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TreeBeard
3 Posts
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5
March 20, 2023 - 9:42 pm

Sorry, I  can see it fine in my view.  Guess I don't know how to post photos.  Can you see it below?  If not, try https://photos.app.goo.gl/aLPn.....yksKjyJxo6

IMG_20230318_115303050.jpg

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jafar
763 Posts
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6
March 21, 2023 - 9:16 am

Yes, that worked.

Looks like they might be cocoons of beneficial wasps that parasitize spiders: 

 

https://crownbees.com/whats-th.....materials/

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TreeBeard
3 Posts
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7
March 23, 2023 - 1:35 pm

H

jafar said
Yes, that worked.

Looks like they might be cocoons of beneficial wasps that parasitize spiders: 

 

https://crownbees.com/whats-th.....materials/

  

Hmm, thanks, Jafar, that's a good resource.  Mine don't look quite like the Trypoxylon referenced there,  but similar - maybe a slightly different species.  It does allay my fears a little.  I've sorted them out from the bee cocoons; maybe I'll go ahead and let them hatch.  

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Dubyadee
Puyallup, Washington, USA
237 Posts
(Offline)
8
March 23, 2023 - 5:54 pm

I attended a Pierce County Washington Master Gardener talk yesterday about mason bees. The presenter said that Houdini flies are starting to become a problem in backyard mason bee colonies. The tiny fly sits on the bee block and goes into the tube after a bee leaves and deposits her eggs. 
4E521822-CFCB-4772-A76E-36740EA34C8A.jpeg

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GH
Battle Ground, WA
127 Posts
(Offline)
9
March 27, 2023 - 12:15 am

I recently read about the Houdini fly.  Poor Mason Bees.  Is it possible to stop the flies from entering the tubes, as unlikely as that sounds?

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JeanW
51 Posts
(Offline)
10
April 2, 2023 - 12:40 pm

TreeBeard, you mentioned the cocoons being made of a papery material.  Could that material actually be dried leaf bits?  Those squared off cocoons remind me of leaf cutter bee cocoons.  https://crownbees.com/before-y.....tter-bees/

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