Friday, April 9, 2010
What's 90% More Effective Than a Honey Bee at Pollination?
What's 90% or 30 times more effective than a honey bee at the act of pollination? Why it's the Orchard Mason Bee. With the planting of the pear trees this spring out front and my planned planting of more as I replace a beetle infested pine tree I thought it would be a good idea to start attracting and retaining some early pollinating bees. I built two Mason Bee houses out of an 8' redwood 2X6, that I purchased for $8, and some left over 1X6 from previous projects. It took me a few hours last night to put them together and hang them. Most of the time was drilling the holes. My elbow was quite sore after that. The boxes are easy to build and inexpensive and provide a place for the bees to lay their eggs before sealing the holes with mud. The holes must be 5/16" in diameter and you want to hang the boxes on the east side of a building or fence to catch the morning sun yet not get too much afternoon sun. You also need to provide some mud. There's plenty of information on the web concerning making the houses and attracting the bees. One great thing about the houses is that you can hang them now where you can catch have the bees use your house then move them to another location in late Novemeber. I'll be putting some up at friends in hopes of getting use there if my 2 at my place do not get used. I'm going to be getting some free redwood 4X6 and will be making quite a few more to use and give away. If you want one or two and can pick it up in the Roseville area let me know.
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Greg,
ReplyDeleteMason Bees are the only bees I've ever witnessed pollinating tomato flowers. They are wonderful pollinators. My guess is -- since you live in an older neighborhood -- you've probably got more around than you know. We had one that discovered our yard last year. I swear -- you could hear it coming from 50-yards off. Venus and I would stop, listen and smile as our Battleship Missouri buddy flew by our heads and headed for the nearest tomato flower. Wonderful bees. Wonderful friends. It's a shame -- however -- what results pop up when you Google the term "Mason Bee."
Oh -- I hope to pick some up next week at Sacramento Beekeeping Supply. They have them on ice.
ReplyDeleteI see quite a few. I'm hoping to get some to start using the houses. As a backup I'm going to put a few at friends. If mine get good use I'll leave the houses at friends for their use. Maybe I'll get by Sac Bee Keeping friday and buy a few tubes to "prime" my houses. I need to find a few more Mason Bee attracting flowers. I did not fare so well at Green Acres.
ReplyDeleteGreg,
ReplyDeleteIf I'm around in Roseville this weekend -- I will let you know. I haven't built mine yet -- but I do have an old 4X4 post (untreated) that was part of a fence post at one time until it cracked into two pieces (stupid builder). That was going to be my wood of choice -- plus I have other wood scraps for the "roof." But -- if I don't get around to drilling mine -- and you've got an extra one? I might be interested.
There will be NO bartering for tomato plants, pepper plants -- whatever I have is yours. You can take all you want Greg. Let me make that very clear. I have starter offers coming in from all over -- so I have more than enough. I'm only going to plant one of each variety -- and at this point -- I have five or six. That's a lot to give away! However -- I would like to add a home for Mason Bees. I will probably pick up my tube tonight -- so if you've got an extra home? I could use one. Let me know, OK?
ReplyDeleteYou can have one of the one's I have put up. They haven't started using them and I'll be getting a bunch of free 4X6 in 2 weeks to replace it.
ReplyDelete