A major affliction of honey and mason bees is the chalkbrood disease, which caused by the fungus Ascosphaera Apis. The diseases afflicts colonies of the honey bee the world over. It mummifies the larvae of honey bees, leaving larvae in bee brood cells hard on the outside and white on the inside. The mummified larvae looks like a piece of chalk, hence the name chalkbrood. This disease of honey bees affects both sealed and unsealed brood in a colony. These mycelia multiply and eventually engulf the entire larvae inside the cell and kill it. This guide helps you with chalkbrood disease treatment for honey and mason bees.
Read More »An Overview of Mason Bee Pests, Parasites and Predators
Mason bees are highly sensitive and require little management when compared to the honey bee. They are particularly prone to pesticides. It is therefore the responsibility of those who use pesticides in their lawn or garden, to ensure it does not drift into the mason bee houses. Flowering plants should also be free from pesticides, since the bees forage on these plants. This is not the only challenge faced by the mason bee. Pests, parasites and predators target mason bees as well. Consequently, they should be protected. This should be an all-season work on your part, leaving no chance for these enemies of the mason bee to attack.
Read More »Wildlife World Mason Bee Interactive Management System Review
The Wildlife World Mason Bee Interactive Management System is a custom made house for mason, leafcutter and other solitary bees. As the name suggests, it is built to be an interactive habitat for these solitary bees that are very good for pollination. The mason bee house is built using durable …
Read More »How to Raise Mason Bees Successfully
Raising mason bees for plant pollination is better than using honeybees. Mason bees are solitary bees and native to the American continent. This article arms you with useful information on how to raise mason bees. Among other aspects, it explores the mason bee house, providing for mason bees and management practices for best results in mason beekeeping. The article also delves into the lifecycle of mason bees so that you get deep understanding of mason beekeeping processes and management practices. Use the tips on how to raise mason bees for successful mason beekeeping operations with great pollination of your plants.
Read More »Niteangel Natural Bee House Review
The Niteangel Natural Bee House is a cute little insect habitat built in a house style. It features a double slanting roof covering the area where bees and other insects will stay. The insect house is largely made of wood. It has some mesh covering the uppermost and lowermost sections. …
Read More »Gardener’s Supply Company Mason Bee House Review
The Gardener’s Supply Company Mason Bee House is tear drop shaped and made using bamboo. The bee house is hung in place with the narrower side of the tear drop at the top. Gardener’s Supply Company is known for creating products for varying agricultural uses. Their products are designed and tested …
Read More »Best Mason Bee Kits with Bees (2023)
Starting a mason bee population with cocoons is easy. You buy the cocoons from sellers such as Crown Bees and install them in the mason bee house. In a small period of time, you will have a large number of mason bees in the nest. You can buy the mason bee house separately from other items you need such as nesting tubes and attractants. Mason beekeepers also have the option of getting everything in one package. It is best to go for the complete set which includes the mason bee house, nesting tubes, and attractant since it makes purchasing the requirements easy. You do it once, instead of making multiple purchases, sometimes from different suppliers. In this article, we will discuss the best mason bee kits that come packaged with bees.
Read More »How to Protect Honey Bees and Mason Bees from Birds
Beekeeping is not only one of the most fulfilling hobbies, but it also a most rewarding venture for agriculturists. There are, however, some limiting factors, including honey bee predators, being one of the biggest challenges to beekeepers. Some of these include: beetles, rodents, wasps, ants, mammals, and birds. Poor hive management that leads to improper mitigation of these pests and predators certainly weakens the bee colony. While honey bees may instinctively keep off most of their enemies using their stinger, they sometimes require some assistance from the beekeeper. The tiny bee is a target of small to large predators making it an insurmountable task for a single colony to defend itself from all these predators and pests. Some predators eat the honey bees as a whole whereas others are parasitic, sucking the life out of the bees. In this article, we will discuss how to protect honey and mason bees from birds.
Read More »Best Mason Beekeeping Accessories (2023)
Extras to mason bee houses such as these best mason beekeeping accessories help you provide best conditions for the solitary bees. Taking care of mason bees and meeting their needs requires you to go beyond just providing a suitable habitat. Use these accessories to get the best results in keeping mason bees. Mason bees that are taken good care of give you a thriving nest of pollinators. You get a large population of the bees every year and your plants are pollinated in the best way. The accessories are made using the best materials by reputable manufacturers. You are sure they work well and are safe for use with humans, insects and animals.
Read More »Best Mason Bee Nesting Materials (2023)
Mason bees are solitary bees but can live near each other in nests. For best results in mason beekeeping, be sure to use the best mason bee nesting materials that you have access to. The best materials ensure that your starter population of mason bees flourishes and grows in number. Both beginner and experienced beekeepers can keep mason bees with ease. The bees work with most materials you will think of as long as they are natural and organic plant material. Even then, research indicates that some materials are more friendly and favorable to mason bees. They take to these materials quickly and build compartments more willingly. Pipes and tubes are the preference of mason bees. They love those that have a diameter of around 8 millimeters.
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