I have just discovered that it is possible to purchase red mason bee cocoons which will be available next Spring. 

Is this a viable proposition?  Does anyone have experience of these Cocoons?  Is this something to follow up or best left alone?

Views welcome.

Sparrow - Sue

     

Sparrow - 11 December 2012 11:02 AM

I have just discovered that it is possible to purchase red mason bee cocoons which will be available next Spring. 

Is this a viable proposition?  Does anyone have experience of these Cocoons?  Is this something to follow up or best left alone?

Views welcome.

Sparrow - Sue

Last November I posted the message above.  Perhaps nobody has any knowledge of these cocoons.  However, I thought I might post again hoping that someone can advise.  Not BB related though - sorry.

Sparrow - Sue

     

Hi Sue,

I’m afraid I’ve never come across these so I can’t help. I’m assuming that these develop in to red mason bees in the spring? If so, my only advice would be the usual around live plants and insects of ensuring that they are UK raised so you’re not importing diseases to the UK population.

     

Thanks Malcolm, good point I will see if I can discover their origin.

Sparrow - Sue

     

I have received confirmation that the cocoons originate in the UK. 

Sparrow - Sue

     

I bought some of these online from http://www.birdfood.co.uk during winter 2011/12. They arrived promptly and I put them out in a special bee nest that I’ve had for a while (I purchased it from the excellent Oxford Bee Company before that sadly went bust).

A few, maybe about one third of the 20 cocoons, hatched, and for a while red mason bees were a common sight in my garden in spring 2012. However that year the weather was awful, some early sun was replaced by lots of rain and I don’t think the bees did very well. Only two of the tubes got filled up by the bees. I’m hoping that these two might hatch later this year but in any case I’ve decided to buy some more cocoons and hope for better results this year.

     

Thank you for your information.  This is where I noticed the cocoons for sale and, asI said in my previous message, they are confirmed to be from the UK.

I have not bought any yet but probably will do now I know they are not “foreigners”.

Sparrow - Sue

     

Sparrow - 22 February 2013 10:43 AM

Sparrow - 11 December 2012 11:02 AM

I have just discovered that it is possible to purchase red mason bee cocoons which will be available next Spring. 

Is this a viable proposition?  Does anyone have experience of these Cocoons?  Is this something to follow up or best left alone?

Views welcome.

Sparrow - Sue

Last November I posted the message above.  Perhaps nobody has any knowledge of these cocoons.  However, I thought I might post again hoping that someone can advise.  Not BB related though - sorry.

Sparrow - Sue

I bought 15 red mason bee cocoons from CJ Wildbirdfood cost £20 and none hatched out so would advise not to waste your money.

Best thing is to get a nest either make it yourself or buy one then fill it with tubes and hope wild bees will use it.

     

Hi Keith
Thank you for that interesting information.  Luckily I did not purchase any Cocoons as my partner is busy making me a range of recepticles for bee tubes.  I have some of the purchased/professional ones plus other dried stems etc.

Sparrow - Sue

     

Thank you for the interesting thread. I have a lot to learn about solitary bees but I beleve they are excellent pollinators of some fruit trees. If you live into the right part of the UK you can easily attract mason bees and leaf cutter bees by placing out tubes of different sizes in spring. Don’t have to buy them. Homemade ones do well. Also saves you the expense of buying the cocoons. The mason bees also need access to damp mud as they use this to seal the nest off so the young are secure when growing and hibernating.

     

Hi
I am a wildlife Gardener and by rule of thumb avoid the purchase of ‘wildlife’ - ladybirds; bees etc as the failure rate far outweighs the successes. The ideal option and the one that let’s nature take its course, is to purchase the cardboard tubes (not the bamboo ones) and place these compactly in a suitable receptacle such as types of architectural salvage bricks or pot piping for example. It is always best and more pleasurable to let nature take its course and the bees find your back garden haven. The weather has been extremely unkind with heavier downfalls than normal and stronger winds but they 70% of the Masons manage to survive year on year in my small garden. In my experience, it is imperative to provide a varied selection of local nectar rich wildflowers and preferably a native selection of nectar and pollen producing plants for a minimum of 8 months of the year, certainly during the breeding/feeding glut of summer but please spare a thought for other species of bee that can be found throughout much of the year.
I hope this does not sound too much like I am preaching to the converted!
Good luck.