Mason bees are a solitary insect. This means that each nest is independent of others. However, it is most common to find several in close proximity of one another without conflict. Their territories can be quite extensive – over several acres – depending on local food and shelter. Mason bees will overwinter in prepupal and pupal stages. They are among the earliest if not the very first bee to begin pollinating. The bees don’t mind bad weather too much and will work when most other bees would rather stay in their colonies and be safe. For this reason Mason Bees are highly desirable. If this isn’t what you’re looking for, we also have in-depth articles on: DEER BEES BUBBLE BEES CARPENTER BEES ALFRED BEES
As the weather warms, Mason Bees will begin to emerge and immediately start looking for nest locations. Nest sights will be cavities that are anywhere from 1 inch to several feet deep. These holes can be found anywhere, but most people like them to be between 9/32 and 5/16 of an inch across. Such cavities can be found in old tree stumps, rocks, the ground or even live trees. In fact, they will happily use old mud dauber and paper wasp nests because they are the right size for Mason bees. This is nature’s way of recycling in many ways! Once queens find a good nest, they will actively look for food (pollen) and nest sealing material. During this time she will mate so fertile eggs will be produced as the nest is constructed.
First, food is put in the chamber, then an egg is laid on top of the food, and finally, a type of plaster is used to seal the egg and food together. This plaster is usually made from mud or some cellulose product like paper or old wasp nests. It can also be made from plant parts like leaves. The eggs will have everything they need to grow and develop once they are sealed. One day, they will hatch and be ready to start the process all over again. Nests need a lot of pollen to stay full, so you can expect activity during any growing season. For this reason, there might only be one generation in the north each year, but several could grow in the south.
Mason Bees are generally passive and not very aggressive. However, they can sting and will do so if handled or aggravated. For this reason they are best left alone. But Mason bees can find a place to nest in almost any building or home, and if you don’t bother to remove their nest, they can become a big problem. Furthermore, they can cause damage to both homes and plants which is unsightly and unacceptable.
Mason bees are solitary bees that build nests in holes and crevices, often around homes and structures. While they are important pollinators, their nests can damage property. Here are 12 effective ways to get rid of masonry bees without harming them.
An Overview of Masonry Bees
There are over 140 species of mason bees in the United States, Some common types include
- Blue orchard bees
- Blueberry bees
- Hornfaced bees
Mason bees get their name from their behavior of using mud or “masonry” to build partition walls inside nesting holes Their nests consist of a linear series of cells made from mud and saliva,
Unlike social bees like honeybees, mason bees do not live in colonies. Each female mason bee builds and provisions a nest by herself. She lays an egg in each cell, leaving pollen for the larva to eat when it hatches. Adults emerge the following spring.
Why Get Rid of Masonry Bees?
While mason bees are docile and important native pollinators, their nests can be a nuisance around homes and buildings. Problems they cause include:
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Structural damage Mason bees chew holes in wood mortar and soft textures like caulking to make nests. Over time, this can compromise walls and structures.
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Clogged openings: They often nest in weep holes, vents, and tubing, blocking these openings and causing moisture issues.
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Appearance: The mud “turrets” of their nests look unsightly on walls and surfaces. Nest holes are often surrounded by rust stains from iron in the soil.
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Allergies: Some people are allergic to mason bee stings and nesting debris.
For these reasons, it’s understandable to want to remove active nests and deter mason bees from settling on your property.
12 Humane Ways to Get Rid of Masonry Bees
Here are some effective, non-toxic methods to get rid of masonry bee nests while still being bee-friendly:
1. Seal holes and cracks
Prevent nesting by sealing any crevices, holes, and openings larger than 1⁄8 inch around your home using caulk, expandable foam, wood filler, or cement. Pay attention to areas like weep holes, cracks in siding, gaps around windows, and openings where cables enter.
2. Install screens
Attach fine stainless steel mesh screen over vents, chimneys, attic louvers, and other entry points to keep mason bees out of your home.
3. Use a vinegar solution
Wipe surfaces down with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. The vinegar smell deters mason bees from landing and building nests. Reapply frequently.
4. Apply essential oils
Dab cotton balls with peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree or lavender oil around doors, windows, and other areas where you see bees. You can also mix 5-10 drops of these oils with water in a spray bottle and spritz surfaces.
5. Remove nesting materials
Eliminate mud puddles, piles of dirt, and peeling paint or plaster that provide nest building materials for mason bees.
6. Install nesting boxes
Hang mason bee nest boxes near gardens to lure them away from your home. Orchard mason bees prefer boxes with holes 5/16-inches in diameter, while blue mason bees like 3/16-inch holes.
7. Knock down nests
Carefully knock existing nests off of walls and surfaces using a putty knife or scraper. Wear protective clothing in case bees emerge. This removes nesting sites so bees look elsewhere.
8. Apply insecticidal dust
Apply a light dusting of boric acid powder into nest holes. The bees track the particles into their nests where it kills larvae. This eventually eliminates the nest. Avoid inhaling the dust.
9. Use eco-friendly pesticide sprays
As a last resort, apply a pesticide containing pyrethrins derived from chrysanthemums. Pyrethrins are toxic to bees but break down quickly outdoors. Spray nest entrances in the evening when bees are less active.
10. Hang fake nests
Deter mason bees from settling by hanging up fake paper wasp nests. Bees avoid areas where competitors already appear established.
11. Install a bee blocker
Slip a piece of window screen, hardware cloth, or sheet metal into weep holes or vents to prevent bees from entering while still allowing airflow.
12. Trap bees in bottles
Attach a bottle or container over nest holes to trap emerging bees so they die and can’t continue the nest. Or insert rolled up cardboard inside holes which bees get stuck in when investigating the site.
Prevent Future Infestations
Here are some ways to help discourage mason bees from returning and nesting in the future:
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Keep surfaces in good repair without holes, cracks, or peeling sections that invite nesting.
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Paint or stain exteriors where bees nested to cover up pheromones.
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Caulk around windows, doors, siding, trim, and foundations to seal cracks.
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Install screens on vents and weep holes after removing nests.
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Weatherproof outdoor surfaces bees previously chose like stucco, wood, and stone.
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Remove overhanging branches, vines, trellises, and outdoor structures near nesting sites.
With some commitment to exclusion and proofing, you can get rid of destructive masonry bee nests on your property for good using gentle, bee-friendly methods.
MASON BEES ARE ACTUALLY QUITE BENEFICIAL
In fact, many farmers and gardeners put MASON BEE HOUSES on and around their property because they want them so much. You can put them up almost anywhere, and either species will quickly take advantage of the great places they offer to nest. Nesting bees will work the landscape in and around your property insuring healthy pollination. With Honey Bee populations declining, the installation of these homes can have a big impact on local plants. Also, making these houses easy to find will definitely help cut down on the number of Mason Bee nests on your house! If Mason Bees are already nesting on your house or destroying one of your favorite plants, you might not want to give them a place to live. But it’s possible that these kinds of installations could make nesting on your house much less likely, so you should think about getting them. The reason for this is simple. Either species requires a special type cavity in which to nest. They will go out of their way to find these holes, but if they can’t find any, their search for nest sites can become awkward.
Mason Bees will readily nest on any structure which presents a prime location. They often use the weep holes around windows and doors, which are placed around these items. Brick homes often have these kinds of weep holes, which are used more than ever these days to keep water from rotting the building. Also, builders often put tubing in these weep holes, which Mason bees love! They can easily find the tubing and build their nests inside it. When sealed, the tubing will cease to function causing moisture and water problems for the building. Mason bees will also create their own nests when none are easily found. Either will chew through wood, mortar, and stucco. This won’t usually damage the building’s structure, but it will look bad.
This can happen to homes made of cedar or Masonite, and they will be drawn to soffits and fascia boards with almost any overhang. Holes in such areas are usually shallow and small but will certainly be both annoying and aggravating. Mason bees have learned that almost any house has a lot of places to nest, and they are using these places to their fullest potential. It appears that once a house has activity it will get more and more every year. This most likely happens because if a building has a unique feature that Mason Bees like, the young from the original nests will come back to it because of that feature.
When Mason Bees build nests on homes, they can be a problem, but the damage they do is usually only on the surface. However, in the yard, their damage can be quite real and have major impact on targeted plants. Mason bee damage is done when they remove leaves from plants by cutting away small sections. In fact, it’s very common for them to find a shrub or plant and damage the leaves badly within a week. When damage happens rapidly, the plant may never recover. Remember, leaves play an important role for any plant. Without them they are not able to create food and eat. Leaves which are damaged by one or two bees will probably just look odd. Most of the time, the bees will cut out circles that are about 9/32 to 5/16 of an inch in diameter. This removal generally happens on the outside edge of a few leaves. Some leaves will start to lose a lot of tissue and die if there are a lot of bees around. Other leaves will die from plant disease or other insects. If enough leaves fall off, the plant could die.
Plants which are targeted by Mason Bees usually have some characteristic or feature they want. This is why taking off a few sections of leaves leads to taking off even more, and soon a lot more. Damage will happen quickly since these bees work around the clock.
If you see someone or something damaging a valuable plant, there are two things you can do to keep them away.
The first way to keep them off the home is using our essential oil deterrent. This treatment won’t hurt them; it will just “warn” them that the house or plant is not safe, so they won’t go near it. Essential plant oils are used to make Pest Away, which is often mixed with paint or stain. Insects will stay away from areas where it has been used.
Any regular pump sprayer can be used with 2 oz of PEST AWAY added to it. Spray all plants or the sides of your house you want to keep pests away. Plan on treating every 2-4 weeks when they’re actively nest making.
But if the bees come back more often than every two weeks, you might need to switch to one of these Prothors. Its water based and won’t “hurt” and will kill them.
For a few plants in a 1/4 acre or less, our PUMP SPRAYER will do the job.
For large yards, our HOSE END SPRAYER is best suited. Add 15 oz to the sprayer, fill with water and apply over 10,000 sq/ft of turf/plants.
HOW TO GET RID OF BEE’S WITHOUT KILLING THEM – DIY METHODS (14 Natural Ways to Remove Bee’s)
FAQ
What deters masonry bees?
How to control masonry bees?
How to get rid of bees behind a brick wall?
Do mason bees damage homes?
Should I get rid of masonry bees?
If you discover masonry bees in your home or property, get rid of them before they cause any damage. Masonry bees are commonly used to cultivate pollination for early spring fruit flowers. If you discover masonry bees in your home or property, get rid of them before they cause any damage.
How do I get rid of mason bees?
And mason bee houses can be purchased from gardening centers, too. If it is necessary to kill them, pyrethroids such as cyfluthrin labeled for bees and wasps can be used. Always follow all label cautions and directions, and protect your skin, eyes, and wear a protective mask to minimize breathing in chemicals.. I hope this has been helpful.
How do I get rid of bees in my house?
Spray insecticide into each cavity or nest that you find. Secure a piece of plastic mesh over the air brickwork, or fill holes with caulk to prevent future infestations. Purchase an alternative bee nest that is suitable for mortar or mason bees if you do not want to harm or completely remove the insects from your property and garden area.
How do you get rid of mortar bees?
Mortar bees, also called mason bees, are non-aggressive insects that assist with spring flower pollination. If you notice mortar bees nesting in the structure of your home or a detached building, you can encourage them to find another home. Spray insecticide into each cavity or nest that you find.
Do masonry bees sting?
The female has a sting, but they won’t use it unless greatly provoked. Masonry bees aren’t as unfriendly to buildings as widely believed, so most of the time there’s no need to intervene. Masonry bees are also efficient pollinators. To control or treat masonry bees: Clean out affected mortar joints to a depth of 15mm and repointed.
Should you put a mason bee house out?
Since they are strong pollinators, placing a Mason Bee House out can serve you in two ways. First, by keeping the bees close by you will help insure healthy pollination of local plants and second, by making good housing available the local bees will be less likely to live on your home.