Like to here if any one is rasing any kind of beneficial insects. What type of homes for them etc.

Orchard Mason Bees are the first pollinators and neat insects at that - not communal so no sting or worries. Have them, need them, love them!

Good background info here:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Other/orn_t109/not109.html


John / Ecologicals

I plant monarda (contained) in my vegetable bed to encourage the bess & wasps to linger & pollinate & have had great success with that. But, to date, I provide no constructed shelter for them. I hope to add bee-keeping to my garden skills once I retire in a year or 2.

Check out this neat how-to site, Linda!

http://ucs.orst.edu/~holubs/bee/beehome.htm

John / Ecologicals

We have lots of carpenter bees, are these the same as Masom bees? If not are they also benificial?

They are pollinators so yes, they too have a role to play. Unfortunately they can be pests similar to flying ants in that they will burrow into wood.

Good info here:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7417.html

Hope this helps.

John/Eco

Hi, I do the Mason bees. Love them, my Children also have enjoyed learning about them. There are specific directions for building their houses, my husband built one for me. You can also buy them. OG should have directions in their archives.

Hi!

I haven't gotten them yet, but I plan on buying squash bees and using the nesting block idea from one of the OG magazines.

take an empty coffee can and put glue in the bottom, fill it with drinking straws and let it dry. hang it in a protected area like roof overhang. I can let you know if this works.

Thanks for the info, I have lots of C. bees they love mu cedar porch. Also have honey bees a plenty.