A Mini home for the Orchard Mason Bee. Designed to provide a very small foot print, perhaps in a garden or on a windowsill or post. This cubical nesting tray has 5 channels and 30 cocoons might be expected. This year I got 53 cocoons from one. Another model has 7 channels. The tray is easily removed to allow harvesting the Orchard bees, cleaning, and re-use for the next year. A parchment insert in the middle channel allows for removal and cleaning. The roof is attached with velcro, allowing the overhang to be adjusted back in spring when the weather is cool and forward in the summer heat.

The main box is constructed with 1/2 ” plywood and covered with strips of Western red cedar. The detachable roof is 1/4″ plywood covered with a cedar shingle. The west coast rain won’t hurt this guy.

If the channels get filled up quickly, the nesting tray can be put in storage and an empty one easily inserted .

Did you know: The Blue Orchard Bee is also know as “Osmia lignaria”.

The “Cottage” incorporates four trays, each having 4 nesting channels. This would require approx. 16 cocoons, 9 males & 7 females. A good return would be in the order of 112 cocoons. The dark trays have been torched to give a darker surface, which allows the bees to better distinguish which channel they are working on. A plexiglass sheet on the bottom of the trays allow a view of what is happening in real time. There is ample room in the “attic” for a hatching box.

The main box and roof is made of 1/2 inch plywood, and covered with thin strips of western red cedar. This should give a long lifetime in any weather climate. The entire roof is attached to the main box with velcro, making it easily detachable. This allows the overhang over the front to be adjusted. Less overhang in early spring will allow greater heating from direct sun to enhance hatching. In the heat of summer more overhang will protect from overheating.