Cardboard nesting straws are attractive to mason bees and are an economical way of starting with mason bees. These straw nests are closed at one end and are ready for use. Simply set straws into a dark water-proof container to protect them from rain and direct sun. Fix container onto a sunny wall of a house or shed before bees emerge. Bees emerge in March-April, mate and then females look for nesting tunnels. Straws are meant for a one-time use. Once the bee uses the nest, dirt and parasites decreases the livability of the nest. If a straw is left empty in the first year, it can be set out again the following spring. In the fall (Oct-Dec) unfurl straws and gather hibernating mason bee cocoons. These can be washed and stored in a container in a cool location over the winter ready for the following spring.
