Mason-bees are one of the groups of native bees.
When midsummer is in full swing, the most common bee in my yard are the bumblebees.
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The mason bees are very busy. However, I spotted two Houdini flies.
I attempted to vacuum up the Houdini files. I think I got them.e
But the vigor of the Mason bees is amazing. The bees are using paper tubes but they definitely favor the bamboo tubes. I suspect if I did not offer bamboo tubes, they might condescend to the paper tubes. But it is easy to see, the bees prefer bamboo.
At any time in early afternoon, there are around 5 or 6 bees flying around the condos.
Both condos now have about a dozen filled tubes. Bees seem to continue to select bamboo tubes over paper.
I have yet to see a single Houdini fly.
I checked out the cocoon cache and was amazed to see many (if not most) are broken open.
I was surprised to see many of the bees taking advantage of the paper tubes. About half of the tubes are paper and half are bamboo. I am always interested in watching the bees emerging from a tube then turning around.
I expect to see several filled tubes in a few days.
I continue to not see any Houdini flies. My handheld vac is at the ready if any of those nasty criminals show up.
The bees are really humming now. Four tubes in condo #1 are filled. Although I could not find one filled tube in condo#2.
Both condos are constantly buzzed in the early afternoon. The bees are using some of the paper tubes, although a casual inspection seems to favor the bamboo tubes.