Storing Mason bee cocoons

A moist rag is used to raise the humidity above the normal fridge humidity. The reading on the humidity meter is too high so this rag should be replaced with a rag that is only partly moistened. The target humidity is 75%. The seal on the large container is good enough to maintain the same atmosphere for a length of time.

Preparing cocoons for winter storage

 

Separate good cocoons from infestations of pollen mites and store 500 at a time in plastic trays. The double layer of plastic is to protect from rodents. Storage for the present is in a closed carport that is a couple of degrees warmer that outside temperatures.

We are getting 5.7 cocoons average from a 6 inch nest.

Not blueberry pollen

Some Mason bee nests were located near some rhododendrons. Blueberry pollen is white. Obviously this nest doesn’t contain blueberry pollen.

 

Pollen in Mason bee nests

Update May 16,2015

developing larvae

Update June 18,2015

cocoons

Variable pattern of Mason bee cocoons

Mason bees released – 2013

This year we have released the Mason bees from one central location.

First Mason bee nest completed

New Gorilla tape

Gorilla tape now comes in a one inch wide roll. This makes it much easier build Mason bee nests lined with kraft paper.

Lining Mason bee nests with kraft paper

This year we will put out 4000 Mason bee cocoons in 10 acres of blueberries. There will be a random mix of males and females. The number of nests required is 75% of the number of cocoons released or 3000. In the picture below we are cutting the kraft paper that is used to line the nests.

MASON BEE COCOONS FOR SALE

See:  http://masonbeecocoonsforsale.wordpress.com/

2011 – cleaning cocoons

Our nest system worked superbly. It was easy to pull the tape off the back of the nest, slide out the paper liner and push aside the cocoons.

removing cocoons