tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post1585744124637863676..comments2024-03-17T23:39:47.479-06:00Comments on Montana Wildlife Gardener: Build a Mason Bee House in 5 MinutesDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-5627358328904563492017-04-11T05:00:36.156-06:002017-04-11T05:00:36.156-06:00I just built one, maybe took 10 minutes. really fu...I just built one, maybe took 10 minutes. really fun and easy to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-75932680335956569892014-08-01T09:32:39.550-06:002014-08-01T09:32:39.550-06:00please do not use treated wood please do not use treated wood Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-82928869113535660252014-04-14T09:00:54.445-06:002014-04-14T09:00:54.445-06:00Please do not use treated wood, the chemicals are ...Please do not use treated wood, the chemicals are not good for the bees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-22242603685528108492013-08-05T15:18:59.062-06:002013-08-05T15:18:59.062-06:00we need the bees...we need the bees...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-38212276231891978012013-05-19T15:28:06.974-06:002013-05-19T15:28:06.974-06:00I just found your blog as I was looking for links ...I just found your blog as I was looking for links for mason bee house plans. I'm a volunteer who is working at National Bison Range. Last year I did extensive research and surveys on bees and pined a few thousand of native bees. <br /><br />I found that the deeper you make the tubes, the better. We just took juniper logs - from the ones we cut down to control them and cut them to about 8 inches long. Then I made a template and drilled holes with a set of special long drills. The reason is that the bee lays female eggs at the back and male eggs at the front. Thus, most of the female eggs are protected from being eaten by woodpeckers and other birds. <br /><br />And the use of paper tubes was recommended so you could continue to use the bee houses without causing disease buildup. Also it was recommended to make the tubes out of baking paper and just roll them around a pencil. Make them longer than the block you drilled, and then bend them down in back and add a back of thin wood. In the fall, you can pull the tubes, and put the in something like a milk jug, with just one exit hole. Leave those for two years as some bees will not hatch in the first year. Then add new paper tubes and your houses are ready. Otherwise, don't use the houses for more than two years. <br /><br />And as you said, plastic straws should never be used. Or paper that is not water resistant, since molds could grow on them. <br /><br />I'm looking forward to reading your posts. <br /><br />And, it goes without saying that treated wood should never be used for gardening or any animal houses. Marilyn Kircushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15014565704792020948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-58940974475241485582013-03-18T17:02:09.328-06:002013-03-18T17:02:09.328-06:00I have a few pieces of 4 by 4 but I think they are...I have a few pieces of 4 by 4 but I think they are treated; would they work for the bee project? dannyhttp://www.save-our-pets-ma.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-59541950233066851862013-02-26T14:33:04.189-07:002013-02-26T14:33:04.189-07:00Glad you enjoyed that! Thanks for the comments!Glad you enjoyed that! Thanks for the comments!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-91549421470553175412013-02-26T09:52:30.948-07:002013-02-26T09:52:30.948-07:00Peg board for a pattern, just to easy, ThanksPeg board for a pattern, just to easy, ThanksJoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-89645602226830613392012-05-23T17:52:10.249-06:002012-05-23T17:52:10.249-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.loaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17206214777732911525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-28111955963828915232012-02-07T09:38:16.970-07:002012-02-07T09:38:16.970-07:00Hi David - I know Mason Bees like small places... ...Hi David - I know Mason Bees like small places... Is there a way to have a space that's good for them, but not yellow jackets? (Seems like yellow jackets like small places too).Emmonhttp://www.questionandplanter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-31589788360688812672011-12-26T23:21:52.614-07:002011-12-26T23:21:52.614-07:00David, when you read this, please do contact me. ...David, when you read this, please do contact me. I have a vastly different opinion about mason bees and their future role with national pollination.<br /><br />Your 5 minute project is a great first step, but ultimately is misleading to gardeners due to the pest build up. Which ultimately leads to gardeners not understanding what went wrong.<br /><br />Being able to harvest bees increases their population substantially.<br /><br />Please reach out to me through crownbees.comDavehttp://www.crownbees.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-67450442147956691752011-10-21T06:05:47.107-06:002011-10-21T06:05:47.107-06:00Thanks for your comments.
I wouldn't use ced...Thanks for your comments. <br />I wouldn't use cedar- it would likely repel adults or irritate the larvae.<br />Good idea about drilling all the way through and using a backer. Many species of bee prefer deeper holes.<br />Also, it is a good idea to clean out the nest boxes, or even replace them every few years.<br />Good luck and let me know how you do!<br />DavidDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-55362389328579898282011-10-19T08:40:41.922-06:002011-10-19T08:40:41.922-06:00Need advice.
Would eastern cedar wood smell be a...Need advice.<br /><br />Would eastern cedar wood smell be a problem for MASON BEES?<br /><br />Would it be good to drill all the way thru the 6"cedar block & then put a thin wood cover over the back so it could be removed to clean out round drilled holes at the end of the season?<br /><br />AWYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-2650513437587270522011-03-14T13:16:19.399-06:002011-03-14T13:16:19.399-06:00So, do you feed flicker on purpose using this (sue...So, do you feed flicker on purpose using this (suet), or by accident (bee larvae)? Love it.Benjamin Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10661489036836711335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-37861254601373961682010-09-10T14:01:33.864-06:002010-09-10T14:01:33.864-06:00Very cool! I'm about to generate some extra wo...Very cool! I'm about to generate some extra wood with a new fence project I have going, and was wondering how to reuse it. And I'm happy to see that in your later post, you found that bees were using the houses. I can't wait to get started.kinked hosehttp://kinkedhose.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-30513729411196220762010-07-02T14:56:09.455-06:002010-07-02T14:56:09.455-06:00Fascinating! I cannot imagine this taking only fiv...Fascinating! I cannot imagine this taking only five minutes... perhaps five minutes to get the materials together?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-26032828882630483372010-06-24T09:36:23.802-06:002010-06-24T09:36:23.802-06:00Great guide. Thanks for sharing this one.Great guide. Thanks for sharing this one.Primary Work at Homehttp://www.primaryworkathome.comnoreply@blogger.com