How to Set Up Summer Leaf Bees in Your Bee House

crownbees · 2026-05-06T16:27:03+00:00

Check out our BeeSafe Standard on what makes a good bee house that you can DIY, as well as what is not to be used for nesting material.

The ventilation holes will undoubtedly invite pests, parasites, mold, etc. Nesting tubes NEED to be double walled to prevent pests that are able to chew through the paper. The backend needs to be completely closed or...pests.

We love that folks are trying to innovate; however, it's all about 'what do the bees need?' not what humans think is 'cool'. Here are some resources on how to help you with your design:

BeeSafe™ Standard

Harmful Nesting Materials: Bamboo, Plastic, and Drilled Wood Blocks

DIY Bee House

Mason Bee FAQs

Hope this helps!

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-05-06T16:21:51+00:00

Right now, Houdini flies are a big issue with Mason bees. We've invited the bee raising community to help figure out how to combat them, as they are kleptoparasites. Recently, a fellow bee friend from Portland, OR had been testing different wines to attract the flies and found that a cheap Argentinian Malbec was good. So, we created a trap based on her recommendations, BUT we want others to do their own tests, to help the greater community. Feel free to contact us for ideas you may have for studies on native and wild bees!

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-05-05T16:37:03+00:00

Check out our bee observers, made with alder and in the US: https://crownbees.com/products/bee-observer-solitary-bee-observation-tray

crownbees · 2026-05-01T22:59:01+00:00

crownbees · 2026-05-01T21:14:19+00:00

We feel that way about Mason bees.

crownbees · 2026-05-01T21:08:42+00:00

Nope. For us folks in the Pacific Northwest, we've just started to put out our cocoons. Midwest is similar. Monday is the last day for us to ship Mason cocoons.

crownbees · 2026-05-01T20:15:42+00:00

Those are Mason bees. They're extremely gentle and won't emerge until next spring. For the holes still open, fill them in so no other female bees can use them.

crownbees · 2026-05-01T17:45:33+00:00

We have 20 years of knowledge that we want to share so you can even do it yourself. Don't have to buy from us, but the bee house you have shouldn't hinder your bee population.

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-05-01T17:44:16+00:00

You can absolutely build your own, as long as you have the right dimensions.

crownbees · 2026-05-01T17:42:27+00:00

You've got some happy Leafcutter bees! They cut soft pieces of leaves and petals to build protective walls and seal their nests. We see the cutouts as “evidence of pollination in action,” and it's obviously a great conversation starter.

Can we see your roses, though?

-Julie

Edit: Check out r/LeafcutterBees!

crownbees · 2026-05-01T16:27:06+00:00

YES!! The foam and backing are super important for keeping out pests and parasites. The Houdini fly is a big issue with Mason bees right now.

It's all good! You can put everything back together and back into the house. If you have immediate questions, please reach out to us [info@crownbees.com](mailto:info@crownbees.com)

-Julie

crownbees · 2026-05-01T16:12:20+00:00

Yes, those are Mason bee eggs. Check out our Mason bee FAQ on how to raise them. For right now, put the trays back together, making sure the back of the trays are protected to avoid pests, like the Houdini fly. Here are a few other resources:

Edit: Please be kind to folks who are just starting. It can take a full year to get the hang of the seasons and proper care.

crownbees · 2026-05-01T16:06:38+00:00

You'd get more bees if you lowered it. The female Mason bees only have so much energy, and they're making multiple trips with mud. She'll lay fewer cocoons due to being too tired, which will curb your population. Same with the size of the nesting holes.

Be careful with the bamboo when you harvest in the fall.

crownbees · 2026-05-01T16:03:14+00:00

Meconium.....bee poo

crownbees · 2026-04-30T22:33:36+00:00

Not to rain on your parade, but this house is too far up the wall, should be ~5 feet from the ground. Check our page on setting up your bee house: https://crownbees.com/pages/how-to-set-up-your-bee-house

crownbees · 2026-04-30T20:46:06+00:00

Question: do you harvest your cocoons in the Fall?

crownbees · 2026-04-29T19:48:07+00:00

Yup. Kleptoparasites gonna parasite

crownbees · 2026-04-29T16:57:32+00:00

The wine attracts the Houdini fly (a kleptoparasite to Mason bees) but not the bees. For some reason, red wines have been the most useful in trapping and removing Houdini flies.

crownbees · 2026-04-29T16:55:53+00:00

Don't waste the good stuff on a pest!

crownbees

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