If you’re new to native beekeeping, collecting mason bee cocoons can feel like a big responsibility—but it’s a gentle, low-intervention step once you know what to look for. This guide walks you through when to collect mason bee nesting tubes and how to store them safely until it’s time to wash and refrigerate them.
When to Collect Mason Bee Tubes
Mason bee tubes can be collected in two situations:
- As tubes become fully filled and capped with mud, or
- After mason bee activity has clearly stopped for the season
In my area of zone 6 (Massachusetts), mason bees typically finish nesting between late May and early June. I check on my bees daily, so I know when my last bee has concluded her nesting activities. Once things are quiet, I gather the filled tubes and moved them into summer storage.
If you’re unsure whether nesting is complete, waiting a few extra days is always safer than collecting too early.
Why Summer Storage Is Important
After nesting season, mason bee cocoons should be protected to increase survival rates—but they still benefit from outdoor conditions. During summer, they should be:
- Sheltered from wind, rain, and direct sun
- Exposed to natural outdoor temperature and humidity
- Protected from pests such as ants, rodents, birds, and parasitic wasps
The goal is to keep cocoons safe and stable while allowing them to continue developing naturally.
Mason Bees in Mason Jars for Summer
This simple setup has worked well for me and keeps things easy to monitor.
I place the filled nesting tubes inside a mason jar with the mud-capped ends facing up. This orientation works with gravity, helping any late-hatching eggs remain positioned on top of their pollen loaf until they emerge.
I do not use the solid jar lid.
Mesh Cover for Airflow and Protection
Instead of a full lid, I use only the metal canning ring and a 6 x 8 inch fine mesh bag. The mesh bags are very easy to come by on Amazon, usually sold as gift bags or fruit protection bags.
It’s a super simple setup: Lay the mesh bag flat over the jar opening and secure it with the ring. It’s as easy as that! This allows airflow and humidity while preventing tiny pests from entering.
Outdoor, Covered Location
All summer long, my mason bee tubes remain outdoors—always on my covered farmer’s porch, where they’re protected from direct sun, wind, and rain. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different ways to keep the jars secure. Because I’m reluctant to put holes in my vinyl siding, shelves have been a challenge to commit to, even though they’d probably be my ideal solution. For now, they sit directly on my deck, away from any foot traffic, covered by a 5 gallon bucket with a rock on top. Very sophisticated!
However informal it is, this setup keeps the bees safe and exposed to natural conditions all summer, but protected from hazards and instability.
What Comes Next
As fall approaches, these cocoons will be ready for washing and refrigeration—an important step that helps clean away pests and disease before winter storage. See Overwinter Mason Bee Cocoons for the is important next step, and information on how to create a storage container.
This post is part of our Native Beekeeping for Beginners guide, where we walk through caring for mason bees thoughtfully and respectfully—season by season.
All photography by @heldthrulightbyjw
