Mason bees (Osmia spp.) are solitary, non-aggressive pollinators native to North America. Unlike honeybees, they do not form colonies or produce honey; instead, each female independently builds her nest using mud to partition brood cells within natural cavities. Their gentle nature and remarkable pollination skills make them valuable to any home garden.

Why Mason Bees Are Beneficial

• Efficient Pollinators: Mason bees pollinate about 95% of the flowers they visit, making them significantly more effective than honeybees at fertilizing plants and increasing fruit and vegetable yields.
• Early Spring Activity: These bees emerge in early spring, before many other pollinators, making them essential for crops like apples, cherries, and plums.
• Short But Powerful Pollination Window: Mason bees only forage and pollinate for a few weeks each spring before laying their eggs and completing their life cycle. Their activity coincides perfectly with the blooming of fruit trees and other early-season plants, making them critical for a garden’s early productivity.
• Safe and Gentle: Mason bees are non-aggressive and rarely sting, making them an excellent choice for home gardens with children and pets.

The Life Cycle of Mason Bees

1. Emergence: In early spring, when temperatures consistently reach 55°F (13°C), mason bees emerge from their cocoons, with males appearing first, followed by females.
2. Nesting: After mating, female mason bees search for nesting sites such as hollow plant stems, wood holes, or human-made bee houses. They collect pollen and nectar, place it inside the nest, lay an egg on top, and then seal the chamber with mud.
3. Development: The eggs hatch into larvae, consume the stored pollen, and then spin a cocoon where they develop into adults. They remain in their cocoons throughout winter and emerge the following spring to repeat the cycle.

How to Obtain and Release Mason Bees

To introduce mason bees into your garden, you can either purchase them or attract them naturally.

• Buying Mason Bees: You can purchase mason bee cocoons from reputable sources, including Burns Feed Store, where we sell healthy, regionally adapted mason bees. Keep the cocoons in a cool, dark place until temperatures reach at least 50°F.
• Setting Up a Bee House: Position the bee house in a sunny, south-facing location, protected from rain and wind, ideally near a mud source for nesting material.
• Releasing Cocoons: Place the cocoons inside the bee house or a small emergence box near the nests. Mason bees will naturally emerge within a few days as temperatures rise.

Supporting Mason Bees in Your Garden

• Provide Nesting Materials: Mason bees prefer nesting tubes made of paper, reeds, or wood blocks with holes drilled into them. At Burns Feed Store, we sell high-quality mason bee houses designed specifically for their needs. Our bee houses provide the ideal shelter for safe nesting, increasing their survival and effectiveness in your garden.
• Ensure a Nearby Mud Source: Since mason bees use mud to seal their nest chambers, having damp soil or a small muddy area nearby is essential for their survival. Without proper mud, they may not complete their nests.
• Plant a Variety of Flowers: Mason bees are active for only 4-6 weeks in early spring, so it’s essential to have a variety of nectar-rich plants blooming during that time. Planting fruit trees, berries, and early spring flowers ensures they have an adequate food supply.

Burns Feed Store: Your Local Mason Bee Supplier

At Burns Feed Store in Gresham, Oregon, we support local gardeners by offering:

• Healthy Mason Bees sourced for optimal survival in our regional climate.
• High-Quality Bee Houses designed to provide the ideal nesting environment.
• Expert Advice on how to successfully raise and maintain mason bees in your garden.

 By raising mason bees, you can boost your garden’s productivity while helping sustain an important native pollinator population. Their gentle nature and efficiency make them a perfect choice for home gardeners and commercial growers alike. 

For more information, stop by Burns Feed Store in Gresham or check out our selection of mason bee supplies!

A variety of mason bee habitats available at Burns Feed Store, designed to provide the perfect nesting space for these essential pollinators

Sources and Additional Information:

For more details on mason bees, their benefits, and how to care for them, check out these expert resources:

• Penn State Extension – Mason Bees in the Home Garden
• Organic Control – Mason Bee Guide
• Oregon State University Extension – Nurturing Mason Bees in Your Backyard
• Britannica – Mason Bee Overview