Saturday, November 2, 2019

Mason Bee Harvest

2019 Mason Bee Cocoon Harvest

Saturday Jenny, Jan and myself harvested our Mason Bee Cocoons.

Early last spring, we put out 250 Cocoons, we collected 1210 Cocoons this harvest, that is a production ratio of about 1:5 for the year (a bad year, was wanting a 1:10). The year before, I put out 25 Cocoons, and harvest the 250 (1:10) which were used this spring.

Photos shows: Cleaning, Sorting, Counting, and then Refrigerator Storage for next Spring. Males in one tub, females in the other (note: separation is not necessary). The white device in the last photo (lower right) is the Online Temperature and Humidity Monitors.

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Harvesting from Hutches

Sorting

Cleaning

Batch Groups

Sturing In the Wood Shavings

Males and Females
Ready for the Frig
Last year: 250T / 25 = 10/1 yield

Nov 2 2019:
J&J => 200M 350F = 540T
Jenny => 47M 37F = 84T
Eldon => 460M 206F = 666
This year: 1210T / 250 = 5/1 yield

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A crow came to the bird feeder

Today I had a crow today I had a crow come to the bird feeder