Summer is past and the solitary bees nesting in your reeds and trays have reached the end of their lifecycle, but don’t fret! Next spring's and summer’s bees are safe inside their cocoons and will spend the winter developing into adult bees. What should you do now?
- Collect all of the reeds, tubes,and trays from your nesting boxes and put them in a paper bag or cardboard box and place it in an unheated garage or shed.
- Clean the debris out of your nesting box and consider bringing it inside, as well, to extend its life and prevent early birds from setting up housekeeping in it next spring.
- Come to our Cocoon Harvest Party on Thursday, October 25th! I will show you how to open the nesting tubes and harvest the cocoons to give next year’s bees the best possible chance to thrive and pollinate your plants. This is a fun event filled with new friends, laughter, and snacks!!
- Can’t make it to the party? You will have another opportunity to attend on January 5th. Or you can visit the Harvesting Page at https://crownbees.com/harvest-cocoons for detailed instructions on how to harvest at home. Crown Bees also has a YouTube channel with lots of informative videos about mason and leafcutter bees. After harvesting, place your harvested cocoons back in the bag or box and return them to the unheated garage or shed. Do not put them in plastic bags or tubs! The cocoons need to maintain their humidity level without getting moldy. Stay tuned for further email updates to remind you when to begin preparing for next spring’s bee season.
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