A Closer Look at Solitary Bee Nesting Options
When it comes to bee nesting materials for a solitary bee house the options seem endless. On top of that, the mixed reviews on the materials themselves, in terms of safety for the bees can really be all over the place too, making the decision even harder.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the options that are out there and hopefully make your decision a little easier!
Cardboard Bee Tubes
Cardboard tubes are probably the most widely known bee nesting tubes out there and also the most readily available. They can be a great cost-effective option if you can manage to take care of them properly.
PRO’S
Affordability: These are probably the most cost effective of all nesting materials which can be great if you're not looking to invest a ton.
Accessibility: They are easy to find, you can purchase them just about anywhere online nowadays.
Easy to Clean: When it comes to harvesting the cocoons, cardboard tubes make it pretty simple. They just “unroll” and poof, there the cocoons are.
CON’S
Size: Cardboard tubes generally come in a one size fits all model. Bees are not always a fan of that. They prefer varying sizes (like them) so they can nest in just the right tube.
Not Reusable: At the end of each season cardboard tubes should generally be tossed. If you use a paper insert in the tubes you may be able to get another year out of them depending on their condition. That being said, you never know if mites or parasites have compromised the softer cardboard tubes. In this case it’s better to be safe than sorry, just replace them.
Predators: Animals like squirrels and birds can make quick work of eating through cardboard tubes.
Water: Cardboard tubes are very susceptible to water damage. They absorb water easily and start to swell and unroll.
Mites/Parasite: Things like mites and parasites can easily compromise cardboard tubes because they are a softer material, causing significant harm to the bee cocoons.
Speaking only from personal experience, I have not had the best luck with cardboard tubes in my bee house. All it takes is one pop-up storm with gusty winds to ruin a whole bee house full of cardboard tubes.
Having said that, don’t let my bad luck deter you, tons of people have success with them and go back to them year after year.
We carry made in the USA, eco-friendly cardboard nesting tubes, give them a try and see if they work for you! Shop Our Cardboard Bee Nesting Tubes Here
Natural Phragmite Bee Reeds
Phragmite reeds (sometimes called natural bee tubes) are naturally occurring plants that get harvested into bee nesting tubes.
They are a little harder to find but getting more and more common. They do cost a little more than the cardboard tubes do but the tradeoff is that the bees really, really like nesting in them.
PRO’S
Size: These reeds naturally vary in diameter, which bees prefer more than a one-size-fits-all tube.
Size (Again!): They are naturally about 6”, the perfect size for our bee buddies.
Capped: Naturally capped in the back (bees love this). The reeds are cut at the nodes, so each reed is capped.
Mites/Parasites: Pests like mites and parasites cannot easily burrow through the harder exterior that these reeds provide.
Water: These reeds naturally push away moisture which means less chances to grow mold, fungus or mildew.
Easy to Clean: Reeds can easily be split open at the end of the season when it comes time to remove the cocoons.
Sustainable: Need I say more? This makes them a great option as they are pretty abundant, and nature provides them for us!
CON’S
Not Reusable: Once the reeds are split to harvest the cocoons the reeds need to be tossed. I am not sure if paper inserts would fit properly into these tubes, if they do, you may be able to get a year or two out of them if maintained and cleaned properly.
Predators: Animals like birds, squirrels, etc. can get in. Covering the opening of the bee house with chicken wire can prevent this from happening.
Cost: Phragmite reeds are more expensive than the standard cardboard and do need to be replaced each year.
Phragmite reeds are my bee nesting house material of choice. I love that nature provides them for us and makes them so suitable for bees.
They may be a little more expensive than some other nesting materials, but I find that the benefits they provide are worth it for me.
We do carry Spring and Summer phragmite reeds that are sourced in the USA. Shop Our Phragmite Reeds Here
Bamboo Tubes
There are a lot of mixed reviews on using bamboo tubes as a nesting material for bees. They are generally easy to come by and pretty cost effective but have gotten a bad rap among the bee community over the last few years.
PRO’S
Size: Naturally occurring, the diameter and length provides lots of options for the bees to pick just the right one for them.
Capped: When cut properly the tubes are naturally capped by the nodes. Bees really appreciate this!
Material: Since bamboo is naturally occurring bees do prefer this over other types of nesting materials.
Mites/Parasites: These tubes are VERY strong, making it very difficult for mites and parasites to get through the sides of these tubes.
Water: Bamboo is naturally water resistant (not waterproof) which really helps out with mold and mildew.
CON’S
Strength: Odd seeing this as a con right!? Bamboo tubes are sometimes too strong to open when it comes to harvest time. This can cause damage to the person opening the reeds, as well as the cocoons themselves.
Not Reusable: Bamboo reeds will need to be tossed at the end of each season if opening them to harvest. However, they can be used with paper tubes and reused if cleaned properly.
Moisture: It has been said that they do not always “breathe well”. Moisture can cause problems within the reeds themselves making mold and mildew inside the tubes a possible issue to watch for.
Mites/Parasites: What, this was a pro wasn’t it? Yes, but also a con. When mites and parasites get into your bamboo tubes you may never know since opening these tubes can be extremely difficult. Left unopened these mites/parasites can kill an entire season of cocoons without you even knowing until it is too late.
At the end of the day, I personally do not use them (not saying that I would never, I just have not had a need to up to this point), so I don’t have a lot of personal experience to offer here. You can see the pros and cons, make your own decision on these. Some people love them, some people really don’t. With anything, if used responsibly, you may not have a ton of problems with them.
Stackable Wood Nesting Blocks
Stackable nesting blocks come in a set of grooved, stackable blocks, routed out to make individual nesting holes, similar to tubes. The nesting blocks clamp together and provide a natural nesting material for your bee nesting house or bee nesting box. These can be cost effective if properly made on your own, and even sometimes if purchased since they can be reused.
PRO’S
Water: The outside of the blocks can be treated with a natural, non-toxic finish. I would not recommend using the finish on the inside nesting portion of the blocks. This will decrease the risk of mold or mildew. We love The Real Milk Paint’s Tung Oil: https://www.realmilkpaint.com/ref/masonandmonarch/
Predators: It is very hard for predators like squirrels to compromise this type of nesting material as it is essentially a solid block of wood.
Easy to Clean: Very easy to harvest cocoons and clean since the block comes apart in layers.
Reusable: Stackable blocks can be used over again if they are cleaned properly and inspected for damage.
Ease of Use: Stackable blocks layers can be (and should be) banded together, which makes set-up a breeze. Just slide them into your bee nesting house of choice.
CON’S
Material: (this one belongs somewhere between pros & cons) As long as the material used to make these blocks is natural you should not have a problem with them nesting.
Mites/Parasites: Mites and parasites can be a big problem if your stackable block is not banded together tight enough. Make sure you have a nice tight seal throughout the layers.
Light: Again, if the blocks aren't banded together tight enough, light can shine through, and the bees don’t always appreciate this.
I have not had a chance to use the stackable blocks yet but am going to be testing them out this spring when our bees start to awake. As long as you’re taking care of the blocks these should be able to last for several seasons. Paper inserts could also be used with the blocks (though this should not take the place of actually cleaning the blocks themselves).
Drilled Wood Blocks or Logs
Drilled wood blocks can essentially be made out of anything wood (a leftover block of wood, an old stump, a leftover log). They are the cheapest and most easily DIY’d of all nesting materials. In a world of wanting to DIY for less, this option may not be the best choice for your bees.
PRO’S
Material: Bees do love natural material, so this is pretty close to a win for them.
Holes: Since you would be drilling the holes into the block, they can be varying sizes.
Predators: Using a solid wood block makes it virtually impossible for things like squirrels or racoons to get in.
Water: Wood blocks are quite good when it comes to water, keeping mold and mildew at bay.
Easy: These are so easy to make, grab a block of wood and simply drill holes.
CON’S
Tough: Again, thought to possibly be a pro, in this case it is not. There is not a good way to harvest the cocoons without harming them in the process.
Mites/Parasites: Things like mites and parasites can get into these solid wood blocks and fester there without you even knowing, jeopardizing your bee's health.
Size: While you can vary diameter size on your holes, this may not be enough for our bee friends. The length needs to be spot on too in some cases.
Safety: Something you may not think about (I sure didn’t) is that the bees can possibly get splinters in their wings. This is not what we want.
Again, I have not used these for my bees. When looking to harvest and keep my populations going, I generally opt for the nesting materials that I can have more control over.
That being said, I have used logs we had laying around from old trees that had fallen in my landscaping. I did not drill holes for my bees, but I did lay these logs around some plants that I know my carpenter bees love. They will naturally drill their own holes and nest here on occasion.
When it comes to the wood blocks, I prefer to let nature do its thing. Some bees love nesting this way, but they don’t need my help drilling holes for them.
In Conclusion...
At the end of the day, if each and every bee nesting material listed is used responsibly, they can all be really great options for you and the bees. Test them out, see which one works best for you and go with that.
I say if it gets you interested in bees and on the path to helping them, there really isn’t a wrong choice!
Lastly, be sure to check out all of our Bee House Nesting Options Here.
-Amy