Mason bees can be safely kept anywhere a can could be placed

Mason Bee and Solitary Bee Program

Bjorn Apiaries has spent the last several years, propagating and building a system for providing alternative pollination and bee services to gardeners. Some gardeners and even farmers, limited by zoning, safety, or health issues in regards to full size honey bee hives, yet still in need for pollination, may want to consider a solitary bee system for their property. Many gardeners have realized the lack of native and beneficial pollinators in recent years. This is a viable solution.

What are Mason or other solitary bees? Solitary bees, and mason bees in particular, are bees that nest in groups, and provide a safe, very effective alternative to full size honey bee colonies. And they require almost no maintenance or care. Two solitary bees that do well in our area are the blue mason bee (Osmia Lignaria), and the horned-faced bee (Osmia Cornifrons).

Mason Bees need a chemical free environment, a place to nest, water and mud supply, and flowers from your trees and garden. They will provide a maximum of pollination during late April, May, and the beginning of June. They are perfect for fruit trees and gardens.

Considered "super-pollinators", as little as 250 female mason bees can pollinate an acre orchard of apple trees, as compared to a full size colony of honey bees numbering in excess of 40,000

If you want the benefits of mason bees, yet do not want to handle or maintain colonies yourself, then contact us about having us do all the work for you. The nesting boxes the bees are housed in are small. About the size of a shoebox. They can be placed under a home�s roof overhang, or in a tree in the garden.

Mason bees are very sensitive to pesticides and chemicals. We offer these to backyard gardeners and special circumstances where having traditional full size honey bee hives may not be practical or desired. We do not offer mason bees as an alternative to traditional honey bee pollination for commercial operations and farms.

Mason bee nests are safe, discreet, and enjoyable.

Call 717-938-0444 for availability and pricing.