Mason Bees vs. Honey Bees

[@eleanorroberts1886]

I have Mason bees, they drill their own holes in some old spongy wood. They found what they liked all on their own, the natural way, some wood chunks are actually on the ground, most are about 1=2 feet off the ground, in an old wheelbarrow. The bees came naturally, so I just leave this spongy wood for them, next to my wood pile that I use in my wood-burning stove

[@vida-zoe.itamarsantos270]

I live in my farm in Brazil. I raise native bee Brazilian bees. A good group of them make honey too. I collect some of the native bee honey. We also have solitary bees that don't make honey. I just made some hotels for Solitary Bees. It will be I my Brazilian KZbin channel next week. The last ones hatch first. The simple reason why the last laid eggs hatch first is because they are males. They get out first a d wait for the females to get out. They get out already adults and are ready to be fecundated. Hugs.

[@ZagnutBar]

I took a class on mason bees in the Pacific Northwest from the Audubon society, and I learned different information from what's communicated here. First, the doctor in the video refers to the first bees released as "she" (the last ones laid, in the front of the tube) when in fact the males are laid last (and hatch first). Mason bees mothers can actually select the gender of their babies, which is an amazing detail left out of the video. The males, once hatched, have a few weeks ahead of the females. During that time, they spend time eating pollen and nectar, sleeping all over the garden, and generally having a great time. Then, the females hatch and mate with the males. The males then die, leaving the females to do all the hard work of laying eggs, collecting food (pollen and nectar, combined to form "bee bread") which feeds the larvae once they hatch from the eggs, and finally collecting mud to seal the chambers. Additionally, the drilled holes represented here were referred to by our instructor as "bee coffins" as they can harbor parasites and leave the larvae vulnerable to all kinds of predators. The most reliable way to ensure survival of mason bees, and the gold standard of stewardship, is to use cardboard tubes with removable paper liners that allow you to harvest and clean the cocoons so they can winter in a safe environment, away from predators and parasites. To do this, in November you remove the paper liners from the tubes, remove the individual cocoons (discarding any cocoons that have been obviously infected with parasites) and clean the cocoons in a dilute bleach solution which kills any parasites on the surface. The cocoons are now safe and ready to stay in a cold (but not frozen) slightly humid environment, like the fruit drawer of your fridge with a wet sponge added). In the spring, you place the cocoons outside in a release box near the tubes (with fresh paper liners) and the cycle starts again. Good stewardship of mason bees is really important. They're great pollinators and following this protocol gives them a much better chance of survival than drilling holes in a log and hoping for the best.

[@OklahomaGardening]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Happy Gardening!

[@nate1494]

what do you mean with 'cardboard tubes with removable paper liners'? And are you saying that I should remove all the cocoons and put the tubes in the fridge or only remove the infected cocoons?

[@ZagnutBar]

@@nate1494 Crown Bees in Washington is an excellent resource for all of your questions. They sell cardboard bee tubes and the disposable paper liners that fit inside them, as well as explaining why drilled wood and bamboo are not ideal materials for hosting mason bees. Before the first frost, you remove the paper liners from their cardboard tubes, and open them up. (Save the cardboard tubes for use next year). You sterilize all harvested cocoons in a dilute bleach solution (to kill any parasites) and dispose of any obviously infested cocoons. Then, you just keep the cleaned cocoons cool and safe over the winter, in the fridge or in a garage perhaps that doesn't warm up past 50 degrees (or the bees could hatch early). If you keep them in the fridge, make sure they don't dry out. Crown bees sells a little box with a thin sponge that helps with this. We harvested about 270 cocoons this year and have a very active colony.

[@thechaosgardener]

Depends on the temperature as well. In zone 9 my leaf cutter bees hatch every 28 days and another generation starts again. I started in February with mason bees and only had 2 leaf cutters and now I have 4 hives full. It’s amazing to see 6 generations in one year.

[@racheldiederich838]

I grew borage in my garden for the bees. I saw this little black bee with fat pollen legs. I put a lot of flowers, herbs and vegetables in my garden. Also a bumblebee shows up too

[@dlasky]

For some reason, I am fascinated with bees

[@urimtefiki226]

Today I noticed them walking in nature in one place full of mud, they looked like bees but were different especially their wings were converging at their end and were shorter than a normal bee. I understood for the first time about those insects. Thank you for your information.

[@thehomeplatespecial597]

I noticed bamboo sticks but some say not to use bambo as it is problematic for the solitary bees.

[@goupigoupi6953]

Some other people say the entrances should be facing South. She says East. Which is it?

[@vertigo6982]

Honey Bees love Milkweed, and so do Monarch Butterflies.. In fact Milkweed is the only plant a Monarch Butterfly will eat in its caterpillar stage so theres a big urgency to get everyone to plant milkweed in their yards. Bees will usually prefer the Milkweed over all other flower around in the area. So its a double win.. Just dont kill the caterpillars under the leaves..

[@VictorFursov]

Thank you for video! Best spring greetings from Ukrainian beekeepers to beekeepers in USA!

[@OklahomaGardening]

Thank you for the kind words! Thanks for keeping the importance of our insects buzzing!

[@JS-cq9je]

maybe they hatch in reverse order because the outermost egg has more heat exposure vs the insulation factor deeper in the tube. that makes sense to me.

[@jackass6365]

That seems like a logical explanation. I know birds species get their eggs to hatch at the same time by waiting to sit on the eggs, and many insects use temperature cues so that may be the answer.

[@dianehall5345]

We are working farmers in New Hampshire. Our honey bees are diminishing. I planted a border of Borage around my organic kitchen garden and managed to attract hundreds of bumble bees, a few honey bees, tiny wild bees and I believe, mason bees.So I just ordered a combo mason bee, leaf cutter house. It may attract other insects as well. The tractor garage is next to my garden. I will attach the mason bee house, four feet & up, facing East.Thank you for the helpful information. Pipe cleaner technique is good to know as well. Will also get in touch with our local Extension Service.

[@debbieviscio2176]

Am I supposed to remove the bee cocoons and mud from the tubes? If so how do I do that?

[@CandiceWA]

Oh my goodness, this is so sweet cute cute and helpful all useful all that good stuff. Look simple to make I’m going to make one. I wish you have a post or comment information in there. How long are those logs? What type of logs she is using? Thank you so much! Is there more information or website about the lady who was teaching us about the Bees? What is her name? I want to follow her to learn more 😂

[@rogercarroll1663]

Thanks. Great piece of work.

[@oysterman2517]

Thanks for the good advice. I can only think of one more thing and that's protection against birds. If you can, use mesh in front of the holes. Otherwise the birds will have an easy snack. Cheers

[@Lochamp]

Thank you. We are starting a bee home, we call it the bee hotel, in our yard this year. Hope it works!

[@ronhat-nx6yq]

I had a carpenter bee drilled a hole in my wooden door. Bad enough but a woodpecker discovered the hole before I did and destroyed the door.

[@KENDAandhisORB]

wonderful video! thank you!

[@ridasmith3732]

I have one question about The carpenter bee , is capable it to produce honey or not ?

[@jalopyjoe4483]

How do keep wasps and spiders out?

[@beesrfunny]

you can't in this type of setup, but if your solitary bees nest are all tight, reducing all the amount of free space then you have less chances of having wasps and spiders around ambushing your bees. We have a very mean predator where we live called bald faced hornet they patrol our garden rhubarb because that's where they try to get our bees, even more we saw them chasing away humingbirds from our feeders.

[@camilianSLC]

i would think this type of bee would be putting them inside for food. so if its established there shouldn't be any

[@chitinskin9860]

Wasps shouldn't be an issue, most solitary wasps act exactly like solitary bees, only hunting instead of collecting pollen (feeding on a very specific prey item, most go for caterpillars). There are very few solitary wasps that feed on bees, and even then they shouldn't be much of an issue. Edit: forgot about the mono wasp, but that's probably the only one. Also, bald faced hornets, while rather mean, are usually beneficial, and shouldn't be an issue for mason bees. While they may eat honey bees, most native bees are ignored because they are too small or dangerous (bumblebees can kill them), and they rarely ever go on mass raids like true hornets (they are actually just big yellowjackets). Their preferred prey items include spiders, caterpillars, and various herbivorous insects, but may be attracted to any swarming insects (such as honey bees, locusts, cicadas, and various flies, especially parasitic ones, which they will pluck off the backs of large mammals).

[@janosik150]

The answer is, The first bee gets first out, because the outside of the wood, heats up first, so the bee that is closer to exit heats up first and wakes up first and gets active first, then as the spring gets warmer then heat penetrates the wood further and so the second bee wakes up and so on. This is how it is done...My opinion..

[@piratex4498]

THAT is how it works, and didn't we see "Doctor" on her shirt, but she said it is a mystery....HUH?!?!?!

[@janosik150]

@@piratex4498jealous low intelligence, you

[@unicornbunny6190]

Ok. Question time. #1. Does mason bees prey on Honey bees. #2. Coz I'm planning to start honey bee keeping in a few years. So, is it a good idea for me to provide mason bees hotels while also keeping honey bees? I know wasps preys on Honey bees. I'm not sure if wasps falls under category of bees.

[@gardenvarietybees4619]

Unicorn Bunny Mason bees eat the things that honey bees eat. Neither will hunt the other but honeybees may be defend food and water source when resources are limited.

[@unicornbunny6190]

Garden Variety Bees : Why m asking that is coz in my country we have a honey bee species which is ONLY 3-5 mm in size( very tiny). They produce sour honey. Very tasty price is 3times the sweet honey. (I DON'T think the western world knew this tiny honey bee exist or that honey also comes in Sour-y taste.) We do have regular honey bees too, but a bit smaller n darker than American bees I saw in you tube.

[@chitinskin9860]

@@unicornbunny6190 Sounds like a stingless bee, different species exist across the globe. Their honey is far healthier than honeybees. They are popularly used for honey in lower North America, South America and Australia. Do you know the exact species? Which continent are you on? Either way, mason bees are passive, they don't normally harm any other bees and prefer to flee from fights.

[@fumastes]

Amazing information

[@sasachiminesh1204]

Native bees are the best. Good explanation.

[@iamcancer3298]

was the first mason bee born in a jar?

[@elizabethgreer9080]

😆

[@iamcancer3298]

🐝🍯🐝💫💫💫

[@ciptogunawan5521]

The buzz about bees Busy bees play a critical role in the world’s ecosystem and are estimated to contribute to one third of the world’s food supply by pollinating crops. There are more than 250 types of bee in the UK and, around the world, more than 20,000 species, including solitary bees, bumblebees and honey bees. These industrious insects pollinate crops including apples, pears, plums and raspberries. Unfortunately, the population of bees and other insects has declined from historic levels due to a variety of factors, such as parasites, pathogens, pesticides and the loss of habitat. What are some things you can do to help bees in particular? Plant bee-friendly flowers, avoid the use of pesticides in your garden and buy local honey to support beekeepers in your area. Let's try to make the world 'bee' nicer.

[@nikunjakirtan]

Super. Thanks for the info

[@OklahomaGardening]

You are welcome, thanks for tuning in!

[@maybeautyjune]

Merhaba

[@iBRiDGE380]

I tend to frown on "versus" and prefer "in contrast" ...either way, much appreciation for this video. Just beginning to learn more about The Mason bee.

[@georgegates526]

very informative!

[@patrapper7367]

Hotels should be 4' and up...immediately shows picture hotel is at ground level. Practice what you presch.

[@thealicemonster9217]

Great video. Tyvm.

[@OklahomaGardening]

Thanks for tuning in! Happy Gardening!

[@johnstarchamp8088]

I agree with Ognjen.

[@iBRiDGE380]

I wonder, if the mason bee lays female eggs first because they have their eggs like a revolver gun? Like, the bee is designed itself over time to be maximum efficiency? Maybe 10,000 years ago they were just randomly laying eggs but in a few thousand realized (consciousness not the actual bee) decided for THIS particular design a "tighter ship" would have to evolve? Become... Whatever, assuming of course that the "creator" is collectively growing earth toward maximum efficiency for productivity and good health? 1st chamber in female uterus is female, 2nd is male. She unloads a female and then a male? Or maybe temperature alters the sex? Cooler temps make girls? Warmer make boys? Or maybe it's a combo of the revolver idea with the gestation also evolving in utero? Like, all her eggs chambers are growing as she lays them. She lays a girl (1st in chamber) and so on until temp gets warmer and finally boys? & end of chamber births? Still perplexing on last chamber being born so exactly before the 1st. Like, how often are there bee's born in the middle? And do the sexes ever waiver? Like, are there boy bees ever born later than girls? Oh goodness. This has my brain all goofy.

[@jerryadams6799]

In mason bees at least, male bees develop from unfertilized eggs. females from fertilized eggs. the female can chose to eject an egg unfertilized and internally can used her stored supply to fertilize eggs and then eject them. that is how she controls males being at the front of the nesting tunnel.

[@iBRiDGE380]

@@jerryadams6799 studied that it was female female female male. And the male was the first to leave the nest... That was just a weird learning for me.

[@chrisdowing1775]

So what I am hearing is the honey bees aren't that important? Your saying the mason bees do twice as much pollination? Ok, well considering the honey bee queen lays near 2,000 eggs per day and there is no way a mason bee lays that much. Mason bees lay much fewer eggs and take a lot longer. There can be over 50,000 honey bee workers in a hive and will pollinate way more than that mason be can do! And honey bees are not making holes in my outside wood work. Also, honey bees make honey and wax that humans can use for various things.

[@happyflippers3734]

she means bee for bee

[@farnorth13]

it's not a competition, not everyone can raise honey bees.... all pollinators are important especially since there has been a decline in honey bees .... we need all bees and pollinators

[@thehomeplatespecial597]

Pollination wise the solitary bees pollinate 100 flowers to only 1 for honey bees however we need both for what they uniquely provide. Some areas outlaw backyard honey bee keeping so ppl can get away with keeping stingless solitary bees.

[@chitinskin9860]

The thing is, at least in America, honeybees are just more useful for humans. They aren't native and prefer feeding from the European plants they are familiar with. Non-native crops are often focused on before native ones, which is beneficial to many humans as our most popular food items are based on them, not so helpful for native crops, or any native plantlife for that matter. Even when they are pollinating wild things, they tend to prioritize non-native weeds, especially clovers, bothering with native wildflowers significantly less. Meanwhile, mason bees are adapted to our native plants, so this really isn't a problem, and helping mason bees tends to help all native bee (and wasp) species in the process. Overall, they are both good at what they do so it isn't much of a competition. Honeybees are helpful for pollinating crops and making products, mason bees are helpful for maintaining a natural environment.

[@rockshoal4267]

honey bees are cross pollinators, cause more problems in a veggie garden than they help, if you are a seed saver

[@KhanTengri-vw9ht]

Shame on this entomologist. Solitary bees do not hunt - this is solitary wasps she is talking about. Also, they stock up food first and only then lay eggs and seal the chamber.