Wooden Nesting Tubes

These specially drilled wooden nesting tubes are the ideal size for solitary bees, including Mason Bees and Leafcutter Bees, as well as other overwintering insects. The tubes come in a range of sizes from 5mm up to 12mm, the middle sizes 7mm to 10mm are best for solitary bees. They can be used to fill existing bee boxes, or to make your own simple bee nester.

Solitary bees are gentle bees and are wonderful pollinators to increase vegetable, flower and fruit yields in your garden. From March to August these bee species will lay eggs in the tubes and create a series of cells from mud or leaf. The larvae will develop over the winter period in the tubes and will then emerge the following spring. Ensure your own bee box is well-insulated or overwinter your full bee box in shed or garage. If left outside cover the full tubes with wire mesh to prevent predation from greedy woodpeckers. Solitary bee houses should always be positioned in a sunny spot, from ground level to around two metres high and preferably amongst flowers or flowering foliage. Try to ensure that the face of the bee box catches the morning sun.