Native Bees build their nests in tubes. The female bee will find a suitable home and lay one egg, provide a bit of food, then seal the chamber with mud. She will continue creating egg chambers for the entire length of the tube. The eggs hatch in the reverse order they are laid, meaning that the eggs closest to the opening hatch first. This grants extra gestation time for the larva at the end of the tube, allowing female bees to develop. If the tubes are too short only male bees will be born. Bee Cups bee homes are 6.5” long to support both male and female bee populations. 

Native bee houses have become popular recently but they are usually made of cardboard or bamboo. Clusters of multiple tubes in one location makes it easy for predators and parasites, such as wasps, to feed on the bee larva. And, as with any densely populated area, disease can spread quickly. Our Bee Nurseries can be spaced out and sterilized.

To clean: Wait for your bees to hatch. Give it a week  after you notice the mud seal is broken at the opening. Once the tube is no longer in use, soak the tube in warm water to loosen the dirt. Use a straw brush to scrub the inside of the tube. Place the Bee Nursery  in boiling water for 10 minutes. Allow the nursery to cool with the water, then allow to dry.