1st year, one hive, all mediums. Several years working with Mason bees
Love learning about HBs.
Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your bees.
Joe
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum, Hops. I stayed in a campground once, on Salt Lake, that had been a cherry orchard. We were there right when the cherries were ripe. We could pick all the cherries we wanted. I ate a lot of cherries that week.
Hope you are close to that area, the bees love cherry blossoms.
Jim
Welcome Hops. I would love to learn something interesting about mason bees. Would you be willing to share something?
Hi Hops. I bought a 61 Volvo p210 in S. L. A real adventure for a guy from N. S. Canada. Have fun bee-keeping. Paul
Thanks for the welcome messages. Laurie, what little I know is yours for the asking.
Are cutter bees the same as mason bees? Cutter bees seem to be common around here. I've noticed the alfalfa growers use cutter bees while orchards are full of honey bees. Why would cutter bees or mason bees be preferred over honey bees?
Just joined the group. I am Woods Cross. Starting next spring. Hope to have some good luck. From what I am hearing. I am going to need it.
Quote from: LaurieBee on July 17, 2014, 02:43:32 AM
Are cutter bees the same as mason bees? Cutter bees seem to be common around here. I've noticed the alfalfa growers use cutter bees while orchards are full of honey bees. Why would cutter bees or mason bees be preferred over honey bees?
sorry for the delay in my response. I just saw this question. Leaf cutters and mason bees are not the same. Leaf cutters look similar to honey bees in coloration, but about 1/3 the size. They cut leaves to build walls seperating the egg chambers, and work later in the year, such as on the alfalfa bloom. Mason bees (aka Orchard bees) are roughly the same size as honey bees, maybe a bit smaller, are furry and have a bluish-black or rusty appearance ('blue' bees in the west or 'red' bees in the east). Mason bees build mud walls between egg cells and work earlier blooms, such as dandelion, cherry, and other fruits and early wildflowers. The California almond orchards also use mason bees with some good results.
IME, mason bees have a narrower window of productive pollination than the leaf cutters, but each has their own window of productivity, whereas honey bees are pollinators throughout the growing year.
Wow, thank you. There are lots of cutter bees in the alfalfa field on the neighboring farm land. I grew up in this area but had no idea about the bees. I've been back for six years now and I'm wishing I would have studied farming. I am completely fascinated by bees. I am excited and intimidated to have my own.
Welcome to the forum Hops