The importance of harvesting bee cocoons
Why should I harvest my bee cocoons?
In the wild, nesting holes are spread across the landscape and natural nesting sites change every year.
The best way to eliminate pests and diseases is to open nesting material and remove healthy bee cocoons.
Harvesting bee cocoons solves the following common bee house pests:
Pollen mites: picked up on flowers, microscopic pollen mites eat the pollen loaf and starve the bee larva. When a nesting hole is left unopened, a healthy bee must walk through the infected nesting chambers and become covered in pollen mites. Pollen mites will continue to infect nesting chambers throughout the bee house.
Chalkbrood: a deadly fungal infection that is also picked up on flowers by the mother bee. The bee larva eats a chalkbrood spore and dies, becoming a mass of dry and chalky fungal spores. Healthy bees walk through the infected chamber and spread chalkbrood spores throughout the nesting hole and onto flowers. Solitary bees are unable to clean and remove chalkbrood spores before they begin to nest.
Parasitic wasps: gnat-sized wasps that lay their eggs inside of developing bee larvae, killing the bees from the inside out. In the following season, the wasps emerge later in the season and then parasitize the next generation of bees.
Kleptoparasites: there are several kinds of pests that will lay their eggs inside of bee nests and the pests may also eat the bee larva or cause it to starve. Of recent concern is the invasive Houdini fly who sneaks into mason bee nests.
Lastly, harvesting bee cocoons has you knowledgeable of how many bees you have for the following year. If you have too many, consider teaming with our Bee Buy Back program and let us shift your excess bees to a regional garden or farm! (You are able to exchange bees for store credit or cash.)
Related Articles
When to harvest cocoons
Mason bees overwinter as adult bees and should be harvested between October-December. Read how to harvest mason bee cocoons here. If you forgot to harvest in the fall, see how to shift bees from old nesting-holes to new here. Mason bee cocoons ...Wild Bee Capped End Guide
How do I find out what kind of wild bee moved into my bee house? Wild bees and solitary beneficial wasps can both move into your bee house or bee hotel. Each bee and wasp species has their own nesting preferences and their own way of building their ...Leafcutter Bees: Remove and Protect
When you find the leafcutter bee activity has halted, it's a good time to remove the filled nesting holes and protect them from pests and hungry animals. Place the filled nesting holes in a BeeGuard bag and store them in a cool location. If ...How to Set Out Spring Mason Bee Cocoons
Releasing, or setting out, spring mason bee cocoons is easy and there are a few guidelines that you should follow to keep the bees happy and healthy. Remember that mason bees need morning sun, plenty of open blooms, and nearby clayey mud to nest! • ...Wild Bee Cocoon Guide
How can I identify my wild bee cocoons? Chances are, your bee hotel or bee house will attract a hole-nesting wild bee. You might be surprised to find different cocoons during your mason bee harvest in the fall or leafcutter bee harvest in the spring. ...