In the last several years, there has been great concern about the declining honey bee population due to the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD is of significant concern because many plants depend on pollination from Honey Bees. In contrast, Mason Bees are solitary bees and don't have the same type of colony structure and therefore are not affected by CCD. The Mason Bees are pollinators just like Honey Bees - and pollinate many plants around the Arboretum - without the threat of CCD.
Morris Arboretum also has Honey Bees and we sell our own honey at the Gift Shop - honey makes a great gift and is supposedly helpful with allergies.
You can find out more about Mason bees here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_bee
A close up shot of a Mason Bee: I was happy to find out that they don't sting and I could get up and close with the bees to take a picture.
A picture from the Mason Bee box at Bloomfield Farm - the female bees enter into these cavities where they will lay their eggs.
I picked up a neat Mason Bee House as a gift. Love the honey.
ReplyDeleteThey don't produce honey. Did you read the article?
DeleteWhat is that house made out of? I think it is awsome looking. I have these mason bees in my back yard at the humming bird feeders. There are loads of them. I would like to put out a house for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo Marie
WasatchMasonBees.com has nice quality built houses like these for sale and the have mason bees for sale also at great prices...
ReplyDelete