mason bee

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by joe2go, Jan 10, 2011.

  1. joe2go

    joe2go Member

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    Location:
    Burnaby, Canada
    Greetings

    I have recently cleaned last years colony trays and washed cocoons. What exactly do you look for when candling the cocoons?

    Thanks
     
  2. vitog

    vitog Contributor 10 Years

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    Location:
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    You're looking for the larvae of parasitic wasps, which will appear as a cluster of small objects inside the cocoon. A mason bee pupa will be a single object with the usual shape of a bee (might look like 3 lumps). Sometimes it is hard to see the difference. You can also gently squeeze the cocoon and feel the difference, as the wasp-infested cocoon will be soft and squishy, while one with a bee will have a firm and lumpy object inside.
     

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