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Mason Bee Mud plug damage
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Posted by knsdye 7 (My Page) on Fri, May 15, 09 at 18:48
| Greetings to all. Hoping you're having/had a successful spring for mason bees. I've started out that way, but within the last few days as my 150 cells started to become full, I've noticed some, as many as 40 have begun to open up again, with extensive dried mud fragments falling and collecting at the bases of the structure where the cells are mounted. I'm 99% certain it's woodpecker damage as similar situation from last year prompted me to try and protect access to the cells for this year, but yet again this year, same thing. I've never seen a woodpecker at the cells so my question is, is there a possibility or documented proof that as the cells become full, female masons will compete and try to re-open previously closed cells from other females? Thanks for any advice. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Mason Bee Mud plug damage
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| I've never had that happen. This year I put out way fewer nesting sites than I knew they would need. After everything was full, there was a week or two of continued activity around the full, plugged nesting tubes. They were desperately searching for more places. I could literally hold a tube up in the air and it would be moved into within seconds. Yet none of the exiting mud plugs have been tampered with, by bird or by bee. |
RE: Mason Bee Mud plug damage
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Excellent response. Thank you. I really did suspect woodpeckers as we have numerous Hairy, Downy and a couple Sapsucker that hang around the yard and could be the culprit(s). Just before initially posting this, I had a Hairy on the outside eaves of the house attacking a small paper wasp nest eating the adults and larva.
My first couple seasons with BOBs is as you described, and only the last 2 seasons have I seen this damage occur. I've got new plans in place for next year that should solve the issue.
Thanks again. |
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