Insecticide For Masonry Bees

Masonry bees are the blacksmiths of the insect world, turning pollen into gold – beautiful amber-colored, creamy gold. Many people consider masonry bees as one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth. There are many types of mason bees, some of which are leafcutter and resin. Mason bees get their name from their nesting behavior. They chew out tubes in damp wooden blocks inside fireplaces, exposed beams, foundation walls … just about anywhere in or around a house or other building.

Insecticide For Masonry Bees

Masonry Bees (Genus – Osmia: Family Megachilidae) are bees that build nest cells out of mud within masonry and other hollow, soft and sandy material.

Over many years these holes or tunnels become extensive galleries that allow rain and other problems to penetrate the structure of the building, making control imperative to avoid huge remediation costs.

What Are Mason or Masonry Bees?

Masonry bees or Mason (mortar) bees as they are also known, are a common species of solitary bee, meaning they don’t live in a social colony with a queen and workers like honey bees.

Masonry bees are best known and named for their propensity to attack the old or poorly maintained mortar or cement between the bricks of our homes.

They create or make use of existing horizontal, cylindrical holes in which they complete their life-cycle.

Bees like these also nest in many other areas where damage to mortar does not occur, like roofs, window frames, timber and air bricks.

In the UK we have around twenty species of masonry bee, but we only see around six species in abundance.

Population densities of each species are also highly localised, so each new location we visit seems to have a particular species that dominates.

Although they are best known for causing trouble in walls, mason bees are also very active on roofs where they build their galleries between and under the tiles.

In situations like this, the bees cause very little if any damage and should be considered less of a problem unless large numbers migrate onto surrounding walls and mortar.

Bees discovered entering or attacking the soft mortar of stone and brick walls are described as “economically important”, especially in cases where large numbers of these bees are present.

In the short term most activity can be ignored, but over time populations will increase and proliferate in the affected cement mortar, so proactive control in advance of this should be strongly considered.

When Are Masonry Bees Active?

Masonry bees are most active and problematic, from early spring through to mid-summer (May to July) and are commonly confused with honey bees and wasps.

Occasionally we do see another brood of bees later in the year (usually September), but this depends on the prevailing weather conditions and does not always happen.

Masonry bees prefer sheltered, south facing walls and roofs that receive consistent levels of sunshine.

The bees can appear and disappear at an alarming speed. It often seems that as soon as the sun goes in, so do the bees, which might help explain the frantic activity that occurs while the sun is out and at its most intense.

Are Masonry Bees Dangerous?

Masonry bees do have a sting, and we recieve reports “every year” from our customers describing how they or their children they have been stung by these bees.

We often get told they never sting, but we speak to the people that do get stung and not just the people who love bees.

This makes our experience far more balanced.

Here are some tips to avoid being stung by any stinging insect.

Sometimes the bees are seen in large numbers, causing distress to people afraid of bees or are allergic to stings.

The frantic flying behaviour of the bees during mating can be a concern, and it sometimes appears as if the bees are swarming.

In general, a couple of bees is not much to be concerned about – however, if you have dozens of bees, the likelihood that people with delicate skin might receive a sting, will of course increase.

Where stings get reported, the stings have not been left in, like those of the honey bee and have not caused significant adverse reactions.

Common signs and symptoms include pain and reddening of the skin that has subsequently faded without professional medical intervention.

Insecticide For Masonry Bees

Masonry bees are a type of bee that builds its nest in the holes of masonry structures. These bees harmlessly eat pollen, which means they do not pose any threat to humans or other animals. However, their nests can become a nuisance if they build them in places where you don’t want them.

There are many insecticides you can use to kill these bees, but it is important to choose one that is safe for your family and pets. Some insecticides can cause allergic reactions or even kill your pets if they ingest the spray.

List Of Insecticide For Masonry Bees