( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden ) The bees mud pot. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden )
The chicken wire is to protect the bees from woodpeckers, grackles and starlings? What about carpenter bees? Do they use the holes? Jerry
Jerry, So far the carpenter bees have stayed away( no sawdust). Yesterday there were 7 holes filled, today there are 11 so far. I have still not seen a bee. So I really don't know whats in the filled holes.
You want to make sure the holes are at least 6" deep. Moma bee will place several female larvi first and finish with a few male larvi last. This way the males emerge first to breed the female as they emerge. If the holes are not deep enough you may only get females. I like the 6" bee tubes and use new ones every year. That way you avoid the bee mite problem that last year females may have had.
CM, Just enough to get me in trouble. Here is a good article from the USDA. http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/mason_bees.shtml
Can this be. Will mason bees or others take over a carpenter bees holes? I found this today and now wondering. The carpenter bees are drilling holes by my gh. One hole is being filled with mud. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden )
