Friday, April 24, 2020

April 24, 2020

Very little activity today. It was about 55 degrees F.  I only saw one bee
going into a tube.

I could not see any additional filled tubes.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

April 23, 2020

Another day, another few bees,
I'll go outside and check in a few minutes.

Nothing new to report today. 
While mason bees are supposed to fly in the rain, it looks like they
are hiding out today. The light rain does seem to have an effect.


Wednesday, April 22, 2020

April 22, 2020

Basically  Condo#1  is at 30 filled tubes
                 Condo#2 is  at 25 filled tubes

This year a few bees have chosen the paper tubes.  I will be looking carefully
to see which is better,   parchment or computer paper.

I have some paper straws, it will be interesting to see if they worked.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

April 21,2020

Condo#1  leads filled tube count with 29.  Condo# about 20

Weather was cool today , so bees were not very active.

Every day I check the routed wood trays and every day I find that
no bee has finished even one tube.  Next year I may no longer
was condo space with the worthless trays.

Monday, April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020

Mason bees have gotten serious.  They are finishing tubes made out of
all forms of tubes EXCEPT the  routed out trays.

I have seen a few bees entering but not one has been finished. I used a flashlight
this evening to inspect. It turns out not one tray has been even close to
finished.  I really think they are avoiding routed out wood trays.


Sunday, April 19, 2020

April 19, 2020

More tubes are being added. Many bees are entering tubes, but just
 have not finished yet.

Also, at end of season, a tube may only have one cocoon. So it can
befinished, but it  has been set up as a Potemkin village type house. 
Where did the crazy bees come up with their ideas?