Mason bees return to campus
March 07, 2014
Orchard Mason bee ‘condos’ were recently installed on campus by a neighborhood partner and beekeeper, Josh Hinerfeld. Why Orchard Mason Bees?
- Native species to US and Canada
- Very effective pollinators, low maintenance
- Solitary species–they don’t defend their nests the way that social bees and wasps defend their hive. So they won’t attack you if you get near the nest, and they won’t sting unless you handle them roughly
- Make their nest in ready-made tunnels in wood or other substrates. That makes it easy for us to manage them by providing artificial nest sites
- Native bee populations are in decline
The bee houses are in the following locations: Rose Garden, Tamarack, Campus Security office, and Stewart Hall. If you have any questions, please contact Facilities Services at 503-768-7845.