Orchard Mason Bees: Key Learnings

As I mentioned in an earlier blog we had the pleasure of seeing Missy Anderson's presentation on the Orchard Mason Bee.  Below are some interesting facts I learned about these little guys.....

• Unlike the bumble bee or honey bee, the mason bees are considered harmless.  Males do not have a stinger.
• They're only active March - May (the peak of fruit and berry blooming).... the rest of the year they're in hibernation.
• They're non-social, meaning they don't hang out in hives in large swarms.  They're independent little critters that make their own digs in tiny holes pretty well anywhere.
• They look very similar to the common housefly, so look carefully before you take a swat!  They're black all over with a blue-ish hue.  The males have a little tuft of white hairs on their heads.

• Orchard Mason Bees are VERY efficient pollinators.  It takes about 250 of them to pollinate a 1-acre orchard.  It would take about 40,000 honey bees to do the same amount of work.  This is because Orchard Mason Bees tend to stay close to home.... venturing on average no more than 300ft from their hidey-hole, whereas honey bees can roam up to 5 miles.

Pretty cool huh?  Want to learn more? 

I've asked Missy to come and give her presentation to folks here in the Snoquamlie Valley where I live.   We'll be meeting on Monday, February 22nd, 7:00pm - 8:30pm at the library in Carnation, WA. Buzz me if you need directions (ha ha, couldn't resist that one!)  Any and all are welcome.... and bring the kids!  Hope to see you there! 

If you can't make it, Missy's already scheduled to present elsewhere:

• Emery's Garden Nursery, Lynwood. Sat Feb 20 at 11am
  My Garden Nursery, Bothell, Sun Feb 21 at 12:30
  Molbak's, Woodinville. Sat Mar 13 at 1pm

If none of these work for you, feel free to reach out to Missy directly to arrange for her to come to your neck of the woods.   Missy Anderson, Master Gardener, orchardmasonbees@yahoo.com.