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Mason Bee Nests - 68 Tube Shelters, Case / 12
Only $12.85 per kit! With the volatile and declining honeybee population due to Colony Collapse Disorder, fruit growers are being challenged to find alternative pollination strategies. Native Mason Bees have been present in the US for millions of years; each is capable of performing the pollination duties of 100 honeybees. While they do not product honey, the problems afflicting honeybees (introduced by Europeans over 400 years ago) don’t appear to affect our orchard bees. We call these American natives ‘Masons’ because they utilize mud to build and seal their nests. Based on extensive research from the USDA, our biodegradable kits provide safe habitat and the ideal size holes for the females to lay their eggs. Because each female can lay 6-7 eggs per nesting tube, a gardener can easily magnify the local population of native masons in just a few years time.
Mason bees are marvelous early season pollinators of fruit trees, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, as they are more active in the cooler temperatures of spring than the naturalized honeybees. Moreover, their hairy little bodies are able to carry more of the pollen needed for fertilization of blossoms. Masons are small, cute and docile bees that rarely sting. Every garden growing fruit trees and berries should have a few starter homes to increase their harvest and help support our native bee species.
CASE OF 12 @ $12.85 EACH
- Features & Benefits
- More Info
- Specifications
- Shipping Details
- Videos
- Each nest is housed in a sturdy, reusable and completely biodegradable casing with a 6 ½” length (made from a composite material derived from bamboo and rice hulls)
- Kraft paper tubes are each 6” long and 5/16” in diameter and have acetate wrap for added strength and moisture protection
- By providing smooth paper tubes, the females have a lot less prep work to do with nest construction and can channel the extra time and energy into egg laying
- To maximize population densities, nests may be stacked and collectively grouped
- Our bee house takes advantage of the gregarious nature of masons that tend to live in groups
- Mason bees are docile enough to observe them closely, as they build the nests and lay multiple eggs
- Species compatible with this nest design: Osmia lignaria, Osmia montana, and Osmia californica
- To minimize a buildup of parasite mites than may harm the babies, replace used tubes annually
To easily mount a bee nest, purchase a roll of plastic hanger tape from the home improvement store (found in the plumbing supply section). These are normally used to support and secure pipes to walls. These come with pre-punched nail holes that repeat every approximately every half inch. Wrap a piece around the circular mason bee home until a few holes overlap. Cut the tape. Hammer a flat head nail through the overlapping holes into the structure, until firmly attached. Slide the circular house about half way into the circular loop. Level as needed.
Position the nests in a sheltered, dry, sunny spot, facing East, South or somewhere in between. The location should be 6-8 feet off the ground; protected from rain. You can easily attach the mason bee houses to any wooden structure (up under the eaves is ideal) .
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Size Dimensions
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MED: 6 ½” long x 3”
diameter
Kraft paper tubes: 6”
long x 5/16” diameter
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Capacity
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Shelter for native mason
/ orchard bees
68 tubes: 300+ bees
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Weight
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< ½ lb each
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Composition
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Outer Casing: bamboo and rice hull composite
Inner Tubes: smooth, 6”
Kraft paper
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Quantity
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Case of 12 MEDIUM: (68 tubes inside poly casing)
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Color
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BROWN
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Assembly
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5-10 minutes
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Usage
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Increases the population
of native pollinators in your garden (orchard bees are more efficient than
honeybees)
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Key Features
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Earlier pollination of
garden edibles
Native mason bees are
less susceptible to honeybee ailments
Superior pollinators
when compared to honeybees
6” paper tubes are
preferred to holes in wooden block and also insure a higher female ratio
among eggs produced
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Origin
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Made in the USA
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Warranty
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1 year
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# of
Parcels
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1 box - 4 lbs
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Method of
Transit
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Ground Service
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Product
Location
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Pennsylvania
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Time
before shipping
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2-3 days
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Time in
Transit
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1-2 weeks
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Dimensional
Weight
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n/a
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S&H
Fees
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$9.75 (lower 48 states only) $16 (AK,HI,PR - USPS)
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Accessories
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Kraft Paper Tube Replacements (case of 600)
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