Comments on: 3D design class tackles critical sustainability project to assist mason bees

By: Jeanne F Patterson

Jeanne F Patterson — Wed, 16 May 2018 19:15:11 +0000

How fantastic is this? As a former Master Gardener, I am so pleased to learn this. My neighbors and I go to the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale. It is fabulous!

Thank you Tom Kelly for the pointers on types of bees and protection.

By: Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly — Wed, 09 May 2018 17:03:18 +0000

Howdy: I a PCC Double Alumni! Found this to be interesting, but a couple corrections need to be address. The Picture show is “Italian” Bee,not a Mason Bee! Secondly,Mason Bee, is not Hive Bee, like the Italians and other similar varieties. The statement of how they nest, did not address the difference well enough to show this nesting style.

Lastly they never mentioned one of the deadly threats to Mason Bees, is a little wasp, who drills a hole thru the sealed mud, goes in, kills the larvae of the Mason Bee…and leaves a yellow stain on the outside of the murdered cell!
The only way to protect the baby Mason Bees is after your hotel housing them is to put them away where flying wasps cannot find, to over winter or screen over the mud entrances to protect with very small window screens (Fiberglass) works well stapled to wood edges. Then take them out when Spring gets closer!

Thanks, Tom Kelly

By: Madison

Madison — Mon, 07 May 2018 12:50:31 +0000

This is so wonderful to see happening. I wonder what the “most successful” design aspects ate when considering nesting bee habitat and behavior. I hope this bee garden overflows with bee life!