From: pollinator@aol.com (Pollinator) Newsgroups: rec.gardens.edible Subject: Re: solitary bees (was Garden Planning Deadline) 28 Jan 1999 05:26:15 GMT From: Gary Cooper > I've been wondering what you bee folks >think of those "Orchard Mason Bee Houses" that are sold everywhere now. Do >they work? Will I have orchard mason bees even without them? If they are >useful, would I need to buy those mail-order O.M. Bees, or is it enough to >put up those perforated blocks of wood (I've got a drill and some scrap >wood ...)? >Can/do these little bees live here in Dallas, where summers are very hot >and winters somewhat cold? What time of year would they emerge? Gary, I don't know about the Dallas area. There are native orchard mason bees all along the US east coast, with which I am familiar. I understand that there is a very closely related species in the pacific northwest. Actually there are hundreds of species of solitary bees, many of which can be induced to nest in nesting blocks. Orchard mason bees are only in the active adult stage in early spring, but some other species are available for later blossoms. No doubt you have something in the Dallas area which can be induced to nest and increase populations. The nesting blocks are a bit pricey, to my way of thinking, and they tend to have all 5/16 size holes, which is what is preferred by mason bees. But you might have better results with a variety of sizes, until you find out what species will nest in them, and what size they prefer. You need a long drill bit, because they should be about 6 inches deep, without going clear through. Slant the holes slightly upward, so water can't rain in (or tilt the block slightly forward, when it is mounted). Plan on replacing the blocks after the second season of use, as they will get fungus build-ups. Or get the kind with replaceable paper liners. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA The Pollination Scene: http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html Jan's Sweetness and Light Shop (Varietal Honeys and Beeswax Candles) http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm