Female mason bees build the walls of their nesting chambers out of mud or other "masonry" products to give each developing bee its own room in the nesting chamber. Female mason bees will then secure the nesting chamber with a thick mud end-cap to protect their offspring from predators until they emerge to pollinate the following spring.
Because mud is vital for mason bee reproduction, females will not nest if they do not have a reliable source nearby (within 25 sq. ft.). However, not just any mud will do! Mason bees prefer to use mud with a high clay content - or that is the consistency of modeling clay.
Specification:
- Roughly 1 cup dried clay
- 1 capillary cloth
- 1 mud box
Features:
Arid locations, sandy soil, and rooftop gardens can struggle to keep their Mason Bee Mud Mix moist.
The Mason Bee Mud Box solves this challenge with capillary action. Water stored in the Mud Box takes an elevator ride up the black capillary cloth and then under the Mason Bee Mud Mix. The clay-rich mud can now wick up moisture and maintain the moisture content that mason bees need. Depending on weather conditions, the water level in the storage bin may last one to two weeks before refilling is required.
Includes set-up instructions and dry Mason Bee Mud Mix.
