4.1 Super Pollinators of Spring

Our spring mason bees are gentle, plump, dark-colored hole-nesting bees named after their habit of using clayey mud to build protective walls.

Among the first bees to fly in cool, wet spring weather, spring mason bees are perfect for pollinating fruit and nut orchards and berry patches. The mason bees that we sell are native across North America and they are excellent local pollinators. Mason bees are super cross-pollinators that can double or triple your yield!

Why Raise Mason Bees:

Grow more food like apples, almonds, pears, plums, blueberries, and strawberries
Ensure or improve pollination of flowers and wild places
Participate in BeeBuyBack, helping to meet the need of 1 billion mason bees for sustainable farm pollination

What Spring Mason Bees Need:

8mm sized nesting holes
Minimum daytime temp of 55F/13C
Springtime open blooms
Moist clayey mud for building nest walls
A Bee Friendly Garden free of chemicals

Picking Your Bee Shipping Date

Spring mason bees hibernate as adults that are ready to emerge when everything spring mason bees need is ready. We recommend picking a shipping date that is two weeks ahead of when your first fruit tree or berry bush begins to bloom. You can store mason bee cocoons in your fridge, which keeps them sleepy until the time is right.

Spring mason bees are very easy to raise! No protective gear needed, no hive or honey upkeep.

Spring set up: 15 min
Summer protection: 10 min
Fall cocoon harvest: 30 min