- How do I establish a Mason Bee habitat?
Mason Bees are fun to have. There are short courses that you can take & reference books to guide you through the process. Any time we do anything for nature we want to get it right. Starting with the right house or habitat that has the space to put in removable tubes, placing the house off the ground where it will receive morning sun. Sourcing the bee cocoons can be done through your local garden centre and many other sellers. Often they can provide info to get you started. Initially you store the cocoons in the refrigerator until daily temperatures are consistently 55F/13C. By then, the flower buds should be emerging providing the needed food.
You can then set the cocoons out close to or in the tubes. It's suggested that the house is located close to a clay base soil. Having protection from birds is worthwhile. The bees will happily do their thing then lay eggs cementing them in place. The bees will die leaving their cocoons behind. In the fall, you pull the tubes & wash the cocoons so they are free of parasites during storage. Then repeat the process of storing in the fall.
Sources:
https://www.westcoastseeds.com/products/mason-bee-cocoons?variant=32697785024572¤cy=CAD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=17635121910&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campai gn=google_cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImbvq8uf3gwMVuC-tBh2Exg_wEAQYASABEgLKzvD_BwE
https://www.westcoastgardens.ca/blogs/tips-inspiration/mason-bees-yard