Mason Bee Cocoons (Reservation Information)

(photo credit: Randee Dadonna, all rights reserved)
Cocoon reservations are now being taken for the Spring 2024 season – we sell out every year so please get your reservations in soon. Please email us ([email protected]) with the exact number of females and exact number of males you would like to reserve (see paragraph below for a guide of how many to reserve). All cocoons are $1.50 each. A confirmation e-mail will be sent back to you within 48 hours. Pickup will be at the end of March at our store in Cutchogue. We do not ship cocoons through the mail.

Important: The recommended stocking rate for mason bees is one female per two nesting tunnels. For every two female cocoons, you should have three male cocoons (to make sure your females will be mated). For example, the bee cottage available for sale at our store contains 50 six-inch hollow plant stems. The maximum stocking rate of the Blossom Meadow Mason Bee Cottage would be 25 female and 37 male cocoons.

Our mason bees thrive in the spring with the North Fork’s abundant spring wildflowers and massive fruit trees, and hibernate snuggled away in cocoons during the winter. Since we raise the mason bees on eastern Long Island, they are adapted to New York’s climate and conditions (i.e., local genotype). You can jump start your own bee ranching efforts by purchasing mason bee cocoons through Blossom Meadow Farm.