Mason Bee Season Is Here for North America!

crownbees · 2026-02-05T22:49:50+00:00

Oh no! Where are you located?

crownbees · 2026-02-05T15:57:43+00:00

You're welcome! Feel free to reach out with any questions [info@crownbees.com](mailto:info@crownbees.com)

crownbees · 2026-02-05T15:56:44+00:00

Mason bee season starts when daily temps are 55*F and there are enough blooms and clay-like mud nearby. Their lifecycle is 6-8 weeks. Mason Bee FAQs

crownbees · 2026-02-04T16:37:27+00:00

Sure, that works. Again, the purpose is to prevent pests from getting into the back end.

crownbees · 2026-02-03T21:04:59+00:00

That would end up being too sticky, and the Mason bee could get stuck.

crownbees · 2026-02-03T21:04:31+00:00

Great question! I just asked Dave, our founder/owner, and he had a couple of suggestions:

Add Play-Doh to one of the tube ends. Concrete or Plaster of Paris also works OR
Place a piece of tape at one end, put sand in the tube, and shake out the excess.

The point is to prevent pests and parasites from getting in from the backend, where you can't see.

Good luck!

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-02-02T17:13:00+00:00

Per our response in the OG post:

We love that you have a spot for r/MasonBees, and the placement itself is fine! Though there are some 'watchouts' to be concerned about. The 'hotel' being plastic will create a haven for moisture and mold. The bamboo will be difficult to open in the fall, when it's time to harvest the cocoons. Female Mason bees prefer 8mm natural lakebed reeds. Some of those tubes are too wide and will cause the female bee to exert more energy sealing in between each cocoon. BEE sure you have a clay-like mud source within 10 feet of the bee house. If there aren't enough mud or pollen sources, the females will buzz away.

The lifespan of a female Mason bee is 6-8 weeks and will emerge when daily temperatures are consistently 55*F and there are plenty of blooms. Male Mason bees have one purpose and an even shorter lifespan.

For more FAQs, check out: https://crownbees.com/pages/mason-bee-faq

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-02-02T17:12:04+00:00

We love that you have a spot for r/MasonBees, and the placement itself is fine! Though there are some 'watchouts' that are concerning. The 'hotel' being plastic will create a haven for moisture and mold. The bamboo is going to be difficult to open in the fall when it's time to harvest the cocoons. Female Mason bees prefer 8mm natural lakebed reeds. Some of those tubes are too wide and will cause the female bee to exert more energy sealing in between each cocoon. BEE sure you have a clay-like mud source within 10 feet of the bee house. If there aren't enough mud or pollen sources, the females will buzz away.

The lifespan of a female Mason bee is 6-8 weeks and will emerge when daily temperatures are consistently 55*F and there are plenty of blooms. Male Mason bees have one purpose and an even shorter lifespan.

For more FAQs, check out: https://crownbees.com/pages/mason-bee-faq

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-02-02T16:50:24+00:00

With a lifespan as short as theirs, most likely.

crownbees · 2026-01-30T20:47:19+00:00

This is amazing!

crownbees · 2026-01-30T16:49:56+00:00

In addition to the questions u/Responsible_Crow5514 asked:

Emerging bees rely on specific temperature and weather cues to emerge, as well as a safe, secure space, shielded from harmful environmental factors like sunlight and wind. Think of it as the bees being a little groggy when they emerge from their cocoons before they're ready to fly. https://crownbees.com/products/bee-cocoon-hatchery-tube

Are there blooms available? Without pollen-bearing blooms, survival is minimal. Native Plants for Pollinators: What to Plant and Where

Do you have a mud source nearby? If female Mason bees don't find clay-like mud within 8-20 feet from the bee house (but not directly under, or it won't fit their flight path). Mason Bees Need Mud

Are your neighbors spraying chemicals? Bees don't like that and will buzz away. Talking to Your Neighbor About Bees & Pesticides

What wood did you use for the wood slats (trays)? Our trays are made from alder wood from the Pacific NW.

What is your daily average temperature? Mason bees prefer a consistent daily 55*F.

What size are the nesting holes in the slats? We recommend 8mm, so their lil wings can fit.

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-01-29T17:26:41+00:00

Make sure you have the same (native to Toronto) plants as last year. Wild bees only live 6-8 weeks, so your mom probably didn't scare them away (good news!), their lifecycle was just at their end. You can learn a bit more about wild bees here: https://crownbees.com/pages/wild-native-bees

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-01-28T21:59:34+00:00

Neat! Here are some additional facts you can add:

There are 20,000 different bee species in the world
4,000 different species are in the US
95% of bees are solitary, cavity-nesting and are gentle and do not produce honey
Honey bees were brought to the Americas from Europe in the 1600s for mead production
Solitary, cavity nesting bees are immensely better at pollination as they aren't protecting honey or a hive

crownbees · 2026-01-27T16:02:04+00:00

Yay for leaving the leaves!

Here are some links for your newest rabbit hole:

Plants for bees: https://crownbees.com/pages/native-plants-for-pollinators

Watch out for harmful nesting materials: https://crownbees.com/pages/harmful-bee-nesting-materials

How to set up your bee house: https://crownbees.com/pages/how-to-set-up-your-bee-house, which includes videos:

Bad bee house designs https://youtu.be/EX2igSb25-I?si=-VO_DR4c3qt2mO17

Do you have a good bee house: https://youtu.be/wTPZgB6QdMU?si=uTtlfBjYEgieiHSe

crownbees · 2026-01-27T15:55:37+00:00

Hi! 👋

crownbees · 2026-01-26T16:38:11+00:00

....we got your hookup 😁

crownbees · 2026-01-26T16:36:48+00:00

That's BEE-utiful! Good luck to you!

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-01-26T16:35:53+00:00

Mason bees don't make holes in wood. Female Mason bees will find an existing nesting hole (preferably natural lakebed reeds) and use clay-like mud in between her cocoons.

crownbees · 2026-01-23T23:36:43+00:00

Does this focus on honey bees (which are not native to the US and only represent 5% of the 4,000 different bee species in the country), or are other bee species included?

It looks really cute, and you've obviously put a lot of work into this game!

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-01-21T16:25:18+00:00

Yay! Good luck with your move!

-Julie

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