solitary/mason bees documentary compressed into 7 minutes

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permies.com crownbees.com Dave Hunter gets us started in this video about Mason Bees. Famous for using little bits of mud in tubes to store their eggs, Dave tells us about how Mason Bees compare to Honey Bees. He covers both the male and female bee habits, complete with mating.
Jen Davis, in Portland, Oregon shares with us how she manages her Mason Bees. She wants to help the Mason Bees reproduce quickly. So she puts out lots of straws for the bees and checks for possible problems. She keeps the cocoons in her refrigerator until the time is right to bring them out.
You can visit with Dave Hunter and other excellent permaculture bee enthusiasts at the Mason Bees forum at permies.com:
permies.com/forums/f-56/mason-...
The video explores these aspects of mason bees:
• Solitary Nature: Mason bees are solitary bees that come out at various times during the summer.
• Females and Nesting: The females of the species are solitary, and they seek out holes to lay their eggs.
• Size and Habitat: The bees look for holes about the size of a 5/16 inch pencil, and they gather pollen to bring back to these nests.
• Life Span: The female Mason bee has a life span of approximately six weeks, during which she may lay 15-20 eggs.
• Metamorphosis and Cocooning: These bees go through metamorphosis over the summer, spinning a cocoon by August and hibernating through the winter as adults.
• Emergence and Temperature Dependency: The bees emerge from their cocoons when temperatures reach around 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring.
• Leafcutter Bees: The video also mentions leafcutter bees, which are active in warmer temperatures of 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Diversity and Adaptation: There are over 130 species of Mason bees, each adapted to emerge at different times of the year based on temperature.
• Mason Bee Appearance and Behavior: The female Mason bee has short antennas and resembles a fly. They are generally gentle and don't tend to sting.
• Pollination Efficiency: Mason bees are less efficient at carrying pollen compared to honeybees, as they tend to lose more pollen during their travel from one flower to another.
▶ So you made a portal in time and started grabbing people. And what happens when you click on the like button?
00:00 - Introduction to Mason Bees
00:28 - Nesting and Reproduction
01:05 - Lifecycle and Metamorphosis
01:33 - Seasonal Activities and Varieties
01:46 - Characteristics of Mason Bees
02:07 - Population Dynamics and Seasonal Changes
02:36 - Propagation Techniques and Challenges
03:08 - Habitat Maintenance and Health
03:45 - Threats to Mason Bees
04:30 - Beekeeping Practices
05:00 - Comparison with Honeybees
05:40 - Importance in Pollination
07:09 - Visit permies.com!
▶ Stuff like this at permies.com:
Mason Bees
permies.com/t/6849/Mason-Bees
Mason Bees: Are they worth the investment
permies.com/t/136888/Mason-Be...
Raising Mason Bees with Honey Bees
permies.com/t/75993/Raising-M...
▶ Some of my videos that are kinda like this video:
▶️ Bee Hut - Reverence for Bees with Jacqueline Freeman
• Bee Hut - Reverence fo...
▶️ Bee Hut for Improved Honey Bee production
• Bee Hut for Improved H...
▶️ The Value of the Paper Wasp in Permaculture
• the value of the paper...
▶ If you are into podcasts, here's a smattering of the podcasts I've put out on this/similar topics:
Podcast 21 - Keen on Mason Bees with Dave Hunter
permies.com/t/19744/Keen-Maso...
Podcast 284 - Reverence for Bees Part 1
permies.com/wiki/34544/PRever...
Podcast 629 - 2022 PTJ Recap
permies.com/wiki/211988/Podca...
I now have over 650 podcasts about homesteading and permaculture!
permies.com/f/88/podcast
▶ I have more bee things that I will give to you for monies:
Low Tech Laboratory
lowtechmovie.com
Permaculture Design Course
pdcvid.com
World Domination Gardening
earthworksmovie.com
▶ Sign up for our daily-ish email and get the Native Bee Guide by Crown Bees - for FREE!
permies.com/goodies/143/y-neuc
Or other freebies:
permies.com/goodies
▶ Thanks to my patreon peeps for pushing me into making videos again / pwvids
Dr. Hugh Gill Kultur
Kyle Neath
Mehron Kugler
Bill Crim
Dolius
G. Cooper
Pasquale DeAngelis
Bill Erickson
Bryan Beck
James Tutor
William Kearns
Opalyn Rose
Danita Neu
Polly Jayne Smyth
Katie Young
Rudy Valvano
▶ I want to thank Barthélémy Glumineau studiomelies.com for editing this video and making it look so damn professional!
▶ All my stuff: permies.com/stuff

Пікірлер: 224

@paulwheaton 6 жыл бұрын

thanks to my patreon peeps for getting my youtube engine running again patreon.com/pwvids

@islabonita6304 3 жыл бұрын

Hi there, thank you for this video, very informative and helpful. I purchased a bamboo bee house mainly to save the bee's, give them a warm place to live for the winter. Do you know if it matters if I hang the house on tree branches or use nails to secure it in place? The only difference is it would swing versus stay still.

@islabonita6304 3 жыл бұрын

@Crown Bees THANK YOU very much for the link, and also for the tip on how to best place it. I will need to invest in a non-bamboo house or make one myself, looks like bamboo is too dangerous to chance for them. I can't thank you enough for letting me know.

@susanlockinger749 Жыл бұрын

I'm moving from northern Illinois to south Tennessee. Can I move my mason bee house to Tenn, and if yes, when should I move it?

@marylandsmann1175 6 жыл бұрын

Im glad to see this video instead of the hundred "how kill" videos

@markfarrell1871 3 ай бұрын

How kill? Explain please

@baldeagle242 2 жыл бұрын

This is awesome! I was restacking my woodpile and had these things flying all over around me. I realized that they were not aggressive at all, even though I was literally restacking their home. Good stuff! They get to stay because of this video! 😁👍

@alen7480 9 жыл бұрын

Why am I suddenly in love with Mason bees?

@caleschwarzeschwarze6200 5 жыл бұрын

they are easy and native

@patriciaeckert8070 5 жыл бұрын

LOL, I know right!

@mannduh2430 4 жыл бұрын

Because they are friggin loveable!

@vomMarischal 3 жыл бұрын

same here

@elchin5805 3 жыл бұрын

bc they cannot sting and seem lovely? 😁😍

@VictorFursov 6 жыл бұрын

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

@jasmineplant3191 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this excellent video. I put up one of these garden-centre bought 'bug nests' - the sort with lengths of bamboo - last year and was delighted to see 3 bees and many leaf-capped sections this summer. Having attended 'sustainable bee-keeping' courses and realised my garden is unsuitable, to have any bees at all is a bonus! Thanks for all the information. Jasmine.

@gioknows 5 жыл бұрын

People who raise bees are wonderful. God bless all of you.

@DusanPajic 8 жыл бұрын

In Austria I spotted 1 mason bee this summer in the bee hotel made of bamboo poles on my balcony. It lived exactly 2 months and I harvested 38 cocoons few days ago. I bought nesting blocks made of wood from Germany for the next season, so I hope that there will be even more bees in the following years.

@Citystead 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the info on Mason Bees it's great to learn about all the different pollinators out there we need to nurture so they can continue to help us

@ElenaHaskins 10 жыл бұрын

Wonderful. Thank you. I have been collecting containers for mason bee homes and now I will rethink the sizes.

@gopackgo2235 10 жыл бұрын

I have the leaf cutter bees here. I spent some time watching one fly back and forth for hours from the garden to a hole in the metal tube of my gazebo one day. they go into soil as well. Now I know what they are called. ty. they aren't aggressive at all I petted them on my sunflowers. I'm allergic to stings too! Would never attempt that with a wasp or hornet! Just bees. If in early spring I find one in the shade in the morning I will move it to a warm sunny spot to get it back on track. Fascinating they are to me.

@MarcellaSmithVegan 5 жыл бұрын

You always know when you have leaf cutter bees around when you see the small circles they cut out of the edge of leaves to make their baby's cocoon :)

@JandjacresNet 10 жыл бұрын

Well produced little Micro Documentary. I, for one, did not know that you were supposed to harvest out the cocoons. Pretty neat! Thanks for sharing Paul!

@stevenfeil7079 10 жыл бұрын

You don't HAVE to harvest them. It is just a way to help keep pests and diseases under control. Dave explains this at crownbees.com.

@digitalenigma00 9 жыл бұрын

We have a type of bamboo in Kentucky, used for fishing poles in the old days, thus the name cane pole, they grow wild, cut em, dry em.

@18Bees 4 жыл бұрын

I just captured an amazing close up shot of Osmia cornifrons mating. I was so thrilled! Had never seen it before.

@marksaler124 10 жыл бұрын

Instead of a block use slats clamped together. Drill the holes so when they are un-clamped the holes are split in half longways. Cheaper than tubes, easier to clean soak in water and microwave to sterilize.

@dreamingrightnow1174 6 жыл бұрын

Mark Saler Genius! Thank you for that; I've got so many 'slats'!

@SavageNorthGarden 10 жыл бұрын

I would like to see how the cocoons are removed from the tubes and also the parasitic wasp/eggs in the tubes. Good vid. Makes me think I don't have to spend big $ to set something up.

@mr.cheezit2015 6 жыл бұрын

SavageNorthGarden i

@maureenpalmer1846 6 жыл бұрын

Steven Feil parasitic wasps/eggs what do they look like

@MarcellaSmithVegan 5 жыл бұрын

It is so cheap to raise Mason bees, and fun, especially since you know they do not sting :). There are other videos on removing and cleaning your cocoons. I use the plastic ones that open up, beediverse.com sells them, they are easy to clean and remove the cocoons in the fall. They even sell little homes for them to stay humidified in your refrigerator thru the winter, then you bring them back out and put back into the base of your Mason bee house in the spring, as soon as the get their barings they start a whole new bunch, meanwhile your garden gets good pollination!

@KimMeseck 4 жыл бұрын

Great comment, I thought the same thing, too!

@NinjaXryho 6 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video. That woman made me rethink my hive designs. A removable back is a great idea.

@mponcardas94 5 жыл бұрын

Was so glad to see a leaf cutter bee here in philippines (a tropical country, rainy seasons now though). She cut a leaf out of an Ube (violet yam) leaf and went to our old, unused radio. During this time, i am learning how to grow Black Soldier Fly and these bees also came by. So, I was so curious about it until i bumped to your vid. Thanks for sharing!

@forrestberg591 2 жыл бұрын

Saw a Mason Bee home, had no idea what it was. Keep regular honeybees, thought the home was crazy looking. Cool video! Very informative. Thanks!

@AntonioZangara 9 жыл бұрын

that's awesome, i'm a beekeeper and i'm rearing an local ecotype here in Italy, but you guys, you're simply awesome! i'will help the mason bees , after your video

@woodinvilledavehunte 9 жыл бұрын

Osmia cornuta and bicornis are all through your area.

@robpk63 5 жыл бұрын

The best upload about Mason Bees by a country mile.

@joeyj6808 8 жыл бұрын

Good stuff! We are big fans of Masons and Miners, as well as Honeys and Bumbles at the Hermit's Grove! Thanks for the video!

@catyear75 5 жыл бұрын

So informative and entertaining! Excellent production!

@celestabelleabethabelle7551 3 жыл бұрын

I’m excited for my next Mason bee cocoons to arrive!

@Subcoolschool 6 жыл бұрын

Gardening is my and my wife's hobby.. we are flower nuts ! 😀 This is going to be our second hobby. Because we love our bee's .. and are butterflies.

@terrybochansky6271 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You for the Video. I never new there was any such thing UNTIL. I put my plant shelving units on the balcony. I noticed bees flying under them and seen them going into holes. The next thing was they would seal them with some thing. I watched video after video, I need my 45 1/2 foot balcony of about 400 plants pollinated. I now have places for the masons to lay their larvae. I am doing all I can to learn what to do to help attract all of the others to My Garden. Thanks

@artofjcw8488 7 жыл бұрын

Absolutely fascinating ! Thank you for this video 😎📸🐝

@sydneysimon4999 3 жыл бұрын

Your hilarious AND informative! This helps me a lot with some restoration research :) keep doing what you're doing

@friedrichdostoyevsky491 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for video.I am always amaZed that folks put so much into mason bees home building.All you need is a drill and drill bit.I drill holes all over. Old logs, chunks of wood. I even have a tool rack that I have drilled holes down the legs.According to the mason bees ( almost all holes (1000's) are in use)) this is a really good method.

@terryclark7505 3 жыл бұрын

Loved this video. Just getting into understanding Mason bees. Thank you.

@laughingc0w 6 жыл бұрын

I'm just getting into gardening and stumbled upon your video. Thank you for sharing! Do I have to clean the cocoons? Can I just let nature run its course? I was hoping to keep it low maintenance

@jnuh7710 3 ай бұрын

It's April 5th here in northeast Illinois and they have awakened! Swarming everywhere! Luckily, I've decided to let the creeping charlie just do it's thing, first weed to flower in my garden and they are loving it 🐝 ❤

@18Bees 4 жыл бұрын

wow great video. I'll be working on this as my spring project. cheers!

@AnneLindyberg 5 жыл бұрын

Love this! So fun, great video.

@jheasley1 8 жыл бұрын

What kind of wood works best for making Mason Bee Homes? I was thinking cedar would work well since it doesn't decay very fast in the outdoors, but I was concerned since cedar is known to be a natural bug repellent in it. Wasn't sure if it would hurt the Mason Bees or discourage them to enter

@LeeMorgan07 10 жыл бұрын

Keep it up Paul. I like the idea of Mico-Docs. Way easier to share and spread the Permies word.

@patriciaeckert8070 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the most excellent video!

@hopeundead9334 6 жыл бұрын

I. Died. At the bee porn. So funny

@colin8532 10 жыл бұрын

Great info, thanks for sharing Paul :)

@precarious333 5 жыл бұрын

Love it! We need more of this.

@JBtheExplorer 7 жыл бұрын

I use hollow plant stems right from my own native garden. They're free! I also drill holes in logs and sticks.

@NaturallyHighDanny 3 жыл бұрын

All that work I’d rather just buy it

@JBtheExplorer 3 жыл бұрын

@@NaturallyHighDanny I mean, it takes like 10 minutes. Not really much work involved. I don't do it anymore, though, I just let my native gardens provide their own nesting cavities.

@liamstacey419 4 жыл бұрын

Let's talk about beetle habitat!! Carabid beetles are probably out best natural slug and snail control. Great talk, by the way.

@VictorFursov 9 жыл бұрын

Thank you for video. Good luck in beekeeping! Best wishes from entomologists and beekeepers in Ukraine!

@elysejoseph 10 жыл бұрын

Wow! What happened Paul, this video is so well edited, you found an editing guru or something :D Beautiful, I always enjoyed your vids, but I must say, this is a piece of art!!!

@justangvano 10 жыл бұрын

great video Paul. I really like bees.

@PlantingPixels 4 жыл бұрын

Really great vid. Thanks for sharing.

@JuliaFranke 10 жыл бұрын

Great video, Very informative!

@LightoYagasamiSan 10 жыл бұрын

I dig your style dear sir!

@barbarawood4332 4 жыл бұрын

Very informative thank you. I put some cut bamboo canes in a small apexed bee house, some of the ends are now made up with dried mud. How do they dig through the mud end when they hatch ??

@VictorFursov 3 жыл бұрын

Good presentation about bees. Best wishes!

@GypsyGardener2 3 жыл бұрын

Great content and I really learned a lot ! Thanks !

@Daniel-xu9ut 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for putting out this info.

@LoveLakesAndStuff 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this, loved the content :)

@dreamingrightnow1174 6 жыл бұрын

I'm still confused about whether you can dispose (burn) of the nest, once they've emerged. Could you drill holes in firewood every year instead of harvesting and cleaning each time?

@Mrs-Lewis 6 жыл бұрын

Wow so cool! Great information!

@theangrykorean5194 7 жыл бұрын

totally awesome video. good people providing good habitats for uncommon Mason Bees, and everybody loves Bees. Question: Can Mason Bees live in tropical environments like Honey Bees? I haven't seen any in Hawaii...😥

@0thyme 6 жыл бұрын

The singing is my favorite part... probably because it doesn't go on for too long. But seriously though, great video.

@JS-jl1yj Жыл бұрын

This year, 2023, for the first time, I ordered the Blue Orchard Mason Bees. They emerged between May 5 - May 8, three weeks ago. My question is how many days after the bees emerged, can I expect to see any activity in my bee house? I see them daily as they pollinate my blueberry bushes, I have the clay mud set out for them, but I still don't see anything happening at the bee house.

@pinksdaisy9356 4 жыл бұрын

Thankyou this has been really useful!

@joemci6281 8 жыл бұрын

Paul, When using mason bees in a greenhouse for pollination, is there a way to keep cycles of bees coming through for year round pollination or are they specific to a certain time of year?

@emeralddragon2010 8 жыл бұрын

hi. for sake of argument lets say they did emerge too early because of the weather. is it possible them to temporarily provide them with some type of supplemental pollen replacement until the flowers come into bloom?

@Katiethreeable 5 жыл бұрын

How do u get the cacoons from the tubes to the 1/2 way house

@fayewells 3 жыл бұрын

Great information and... you made me LAUGH! Chick-a-bow-wow 😂

@michaelboom4279 4 жыл бұрын

This is totally new to me but I wonder if dried sunflower stalks are to big for mason bees?

@FatNebraskaMom Жыл бұрын

I just had my first little boy pop out last night when I was taking them out of the fridge. He was so damned cute wuth his little white mohawk! He sat on my finger for a while and licked st my skin. I named him sparky.

@jakefergusson1124 6 жыл бұрын

She is so awesome!

@alexandriaschreiber2434 4 жыл бұрын

What would stuff the tiny tubes with grass clippings?

@kimcup5000 4 жыл бұрын

I wish you would have shown exactly how to make a good house for them and how you can do it the most cheaply. Where do you get the tubes?, etc. Thank you!

@johnleebass 6 жыл бұрын

Gr8 video! "Bee porn" = LMAO! Love these little guys! Love watching them emerge from cocoons. Special guys & deserve our respect. Love the passion you guyz have.

@mnorman1572 5 жыл бұрын

So im trying 3d printed tube trays. Has anyone done any research on this?

@Gesundheit888 8 жыл бұрын

I've read that you should wash the cocoons in 1% bleach water before putting them into the fridge in fall. Is that right?

@danielherrera2203 10 жыл бұрын

Bumblebees are what you need for greenhouses...they are raised commercialy for greenhouse pollination...neither mason bees or honey bees work well in greenhouses.

@armanflint 10 жыл бұрын

I wonder if mason bees would be well adapted to the inside of a greenhouse.

@maxmagnus777 10 жыл бұрын

so long as you do not disturb their natural cycles they will do fine

@samautz1 2 жыл бұрын

How deep is the outer tube in the tube example? Also, an approximate diameter? My spring project so any advice is very appreciated.

@jochebed3675 2 жыл бұрын

Hello Mr. Wheaton. So I just placed a bee house in my garden, will the mason bees and other solitary bees find it on their own?

@JoshGivesRobuxForFree 3 жыл бұрын

This morning I found a insect in my pool I saved it because I love animals and I thought what is this I thought it was a solitary bee and I thought yay I got a solitary bee hive and nothing has went in it so I was happy but from this thumbnail it’s a mason bee so thanks thumbnail

@carrieannmcleod5219 4 жыл бұрын

How do you clean the bamboo without killing the larvae?

@marriedman420 10 жыл бұрын

I have now decided to use Paul saying bow chicka wow as my ring tone

@benriniker9126 10 жыл бұрын

Good stuff!

@theopieshow1320 6 жыл бұрын

How do I purchase some cocoons or contact someone with a good stock to get a booster pack, there are no bees in my area

@maryagee6934 5 жыл бұрын

What does those big black bomb bees good for? They really come out in the spring of the year and find some dryed up wood to put nest into it. MLA

@MikeTheMaker1 6 жыл бұрын

Do you recommend tubes or the racks for each bee? I just made the racks since they are reusable.

@MikeTheMaker1 6 жыл бұрын

Crown Bees it’s also end of the middle of summer in the US do you think any bees will move in before the end of summer?

@ReapingTheHarvest Жыл бұрын

These things love squash flowers.

@MarcellaSmithVegan 4 жыл бұрын

I am going to move from Kansas to Southern Florida in the next month, can I bring my Fall Mason Bee cocoons with me, will they do ok in Southern Florida? It is warm right now wo they will probably hatch out, but I don't want to leave them behind

@RoseNZieg Жыл бұрын

if you want flowers for bees in the winter and/or cold spells, plant flowering plants that can withstand cold spells, such as mustards in late autumn. the blooms in winter and early spring will help the bees significantly.

@ceili 4 жыл бұрын

Do honey bees compete with Mason bees if a hive is close to where they nest?

@semmes5342 4 жыл бұрын

I bought a bee hotel today what is the best way to start the process. How do i attract bees? do I need food?where is the best place to expose the hotel ? early morning sun? so help me get started thanks

@kitrobbo1696 4 жыл бұрын

Dry good solid info cheers kit

@nitelite78 4 жыл бұрын

I am wondering if the blocks with drilled holes could just be heated every couple of years to say 80c/175f for a period of time after cleaning to destroy any fungus/parasites.

@paulwheaton 4 жыл бұрын

At any time of year, the blocks would have some sort of life in it. So there is no time when you could do that that wouldn't be killing solitary bees.

@Crus0e 3 жыл бұрын

Are aged bamboo sticks good for bees?

@kimcup5000 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!!

@MrBurtley 10 жыл бұрын

is there a time of year when there just won't be any mason bees nesting? I want to put up some wood blocks for them and when they get old simply burn them, not wanting to burn the bees obviously

@woodinvilledavehunte 10 жыл бұрын

Mr Burtley, spring mason bees are finished flying in early June. They have nested in their holes and will develop over the summer to an adult bee in a cocoon for the winter hibernation. With drilled blocks of wood, you can't harvest your cocoons from them... (pest build up) and have to place them out in the spring. I recommend that you look to use reeds, wood trays, or paper tubes that allow you to hold the cocoon in your hands. Jen is right in the video. Dave

@bhumphries1360 5 жыл бұрын

So, do Mason bees build hives and make honey like a honey bee does?

@ThrivingHuman 10 жыл бұрын

great info

@LyleAllenCairns 9 жыл бұрын

I'm confused by the numbers, are you saying that one mason bee will pollinate what takes 100 honey bees to do?

@ryderhughes9544 9 жыл бұрын

That's exactly what it's saying, because A: the Mason Bee is far less efficient and has to hit more flowers to get the same amount of Pollen and B: Mason Bees will perform in less favorable conditions to honeybees.

@dreamingrightnow1174 6 жыл бұрын

Ryder Hughes Lol, I wondered that too. I thought, "Did he say the mason bee was pollinating the honey bee?? Remember, some of us are brand new; we'll be more literal than you think..

@Beansie 9 жыл бұрын

How do mason and honey bees get along with one another? I'm interested in honey bees for obvious reasons, though it's only one of two reasons for getting interested in beekeeping. The other being of course to help the planet, no explanation needed. I'm wondering if I kept some mason bees deeper in the woods, away from where i'd like the honeys to primarily pollinate, and obviously maintained and monitored, will they share? Will they commence to Battle Royale? I know bees are pretty widespread in their flights, but I'd really like to help the area around me as well as my own stead. Thanks in advance!

@Beansie 9 жыл бұрын

Very very helpful, thank you so much for your reply, I'll make a plan to keep the Mason's closer to home and honey's further out. Thank you ever so much!

@richardbritt2281 10 жыл бұрын

Do you think Mason Bees would work well in a high tunnel with heat control and in closed area?

@woodinvilledavehunte 9 жыл бұрын

Maybe, not easy though. Bumble bees are better. You'd have to reach out to us to discuss.

@jeeperoo84 10 жыл бұрын

We have a lot of mud wasps here just south of Dallas. I would think that if I set up a mason bee tube it would be full of mud wasps with no room for bees.

@woodinvilledavehunte 10 жыл бұрын

That's possible... but realize that the mud wasps are also performing natural chores around your garden by picking up pests and stuffing them into the holes. If you don't place out tubes, you'll never know. We have them fairly low cost.

@jeeperoo84 10 жыл бұрын

Crown Bees True. I don't kill any of the wasps but they are annoying.