If blossoms are open and daytime temps are consistently 55°F/13°C or above, then it's time to release your mason bee cocoons!
Releasing cocoons simply means placing cocoons inside or near your bee house. Below are a few tips to ensure you and your bees get off to a great start:
- Place cocoons in a small open container or cocoon hatchery to protect them from sun, wind, rain, and predators. The cocoon hatchery can secured in the attic, underneath, or nearby the bee house. Just make sure it is protected from direct sunlight, wind, and rain!
- Bees use visual cues to help orientate themselves to their nests. Paint or draw a design on a handful of nesting tubes to help the females easily locate their nests. Just make sure you allow plenty of time for the materials to air out before bees emerge, otherwise the scent may deter them from nesting.
- Mason bees will not nest if they don't have access to clay-rich mud! If you do not have clay-rich mud in your yard, add Mason Bee Mud Mix near your bee house.
- Bee Patient! Depending on the weather it can take up to 3 weeks for bees to emerge.