About Mason Bees

• Mason bees are easily identified by their shiny, almost metallic coloring. They come in blues, greens and greys.

• These pollinators nest in above-ground cavities, making use of soft stems or holes left by other insects for homes.

• Mud is an essential tool for mason bees. They will collect it in their large jaws to fill in the back of their nesting tunnels.

• It is important that their nests only have one entrance, so they will seal any extra openings with collected mud.

• Access to water is necessary for mason bees, as during dry spells they will collect water to create their own mud. they typically stay within 50 feet of a clay-like mud source.

• Masons prefer flowers with a single row of petals like poppies, black-eyed susans and forget-me-nots.

Information sourced from the Xerces Society at xerces.org and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies at vtecostudies.org.