Bees Emerge Early? No problem.

     Cindy, in West Lafayette, checked on her mason bees in the garage yesterday and was surprised to discover that many of them have emerged from their cocoons and are ready to fly! She gave them some cotton balls soaked in 50/50 sugar water and sealed them up in a box in her refrigerator.
     Most of the bees should be able to survive another week in the fridge until around March 15th, when daytime temperatures will be consistently in the 50's and the maple trees will be blooming. Then, Cindy can take the box outside and place it under her mason bee nesting box. Hopefully, Cindy's bees will mate and return to her nesting box to lay their eggs and produce next year's bees!