Hi! We know that video is one of the best ways for visual learners to absorb information, which is why we've created a series of videos to help you become a successful bee raiser!
Here you'll find our most popular videos about mason bees! If you don't find what you're looking for or want to view our entire video collection, make sure you visit our Crown Bees YouTube Channel!
How to Raise Mason Bees - 1 Hour Webinar
Watch Dave Hunter, owner of Crown Bees, give an informative and interactive webinar on everything you need to know to raise mason bees right in your backyard. He talks about the role of mason bees in pollination, their life cycle and habits, best practices, ecological benefits, and more!
Mason Bee Mud Basics ~ 3 min.
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.
Add Fresh Nesting Materials to Keep Mason Bees Happy ~ 2 min.
Did you know that a female mason bee can fill more than one nesting tube during her nesting period? To ensure you have enough available nesting tubes while the bees are nesting, add additional nesting tubes when you see ~25% of your nesting tubes filled with mud. Don't worry, if the bees don't use them, you can save them for next year!
How to Transition from Bamboo to Healthy Nesting Materials ~ 4 min.
Learn how to move your mason bees from houses made with drilled blocks of wood and bamboo tubes to a better bee house. Fill your new bee house with natural reeds, paper tubes, or reusable wood trays.
How to Open a Mason Bee Cocoon ~ 1 min.
Sometimes end of season mason bees are running low on reserves and need a little extra help freeing themselves from their cocoons. If you're comfortable doing so, you can carefully cut a hole in the end of the cocoons to help the bees emerge.
Summer: Remove, Protect & Store ~ 6 min.
Mason bees have usually completed nesting by late spring or early summer, temperatures depending. Once you no longer see females moving in and out of your bee house, it's time to remove the filled nesting materials from the bee house.
Why Should You Harvest Mason Bee Cocoons? ~ 4 min.
Harvesting mason bee cocoons is a quick and easy way to ensure a healthier mason bee population!
How to Harvest Mason Bee Cocoons from Cardboard Tubes ~ 1 min.
Harvesting mason bee cocoons from our cardboard BeeTubes is easy and it keeps your mason bees safe from deadly pests and diseases.
How to Harvest Mason Bee Cocoons from Cardboard Tubes and Easy-Tear Inserts ~ 2 min.
Harvesting mason bee cocoons from our cardboard BeeTubes and Easy-Tear Inserts is quick and it removes your mason bee cocoons from deadly pests and diseases.
How to Harvest Mason Bee Cocoons From Wood Trays ~ 2 min.
Harvesting from our reusable wood nesting trays is quick, easy, and it's an important bee-raising step that keeps your mason bees healthy. Watch this video to learn how to remove mason bee cocoons, clean the trays, and store wood trays overwinter.
How to Harvest Mason Bee Cocoons from Natural Reeds ~ 2 min.
Harvesting from our natural reeds is easy and it keeps your mason bee cocoons healthy. Unlike bamboo tubes, our natural reeds open easily so you can separate mason bee cocoons from deadly pests and diseases.
The Houdini Fly - An Invasive Pest Threatens Mason Bees ~ 4 min.
The Houdini Fly, an invasive parasitic, is spreading across North America. Houdini flies don't harm adult bees, instead the larval parasites eat the pollen loaves intended for immature bees, causing the mason bee larvae to starve. Learn how to help control this invasive pest.