Products

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We've developed a range of products that will make raising native bees fun, easy and economical:

  • Two styles of new Better Bee Houses, each of which can easily pollinate one acre of garden;
  • Starter colonies of native bee cocoons (shipped only November thru March until we run out);
  • Replacement outer Protector Tubes and inner Nesting Straws;
  • Our one-of-a-kind Antique Native Bee Houses, transformed from wooden artifacts into gorgeous yard ornament nesting sites.

If you live in northern Virginia and would like to save shipping costs, please go to 'Where to Buy' to see a list of retailers who currently sell our Better Bee Houses.

Interested in selling our Better Bee Houses in your store?  Please Contact Us and we'd be very happy to discuss it with you!

The Better Bee House

You will not find a better Native Bee house anywhere!

Our Native Bee houses are the result of extensive research into exactly what the Orchard Mason Bee needs to be happy, healthy and highly productive in your orchard or garden - exceeding USDA specifications.

It took two years of building and testing before we created our Better Bee House for wood-dwelling solitary bees.  We think you'll agree that it's a perfect blend of healthy habitat, ease of use, and beautiful aesthetics.

Where to Buy

Our online store is just a click away, providing Better Bee Houses, bee cocoons (seasonal) and bee house supplies, as well as our gorgeous antique native bee house yard ornaments, all ready to be shipped to your home or business.  Check it out!   Store

Or, if you live in the northern Virginia area and want to save on shipping, the following retail establishments also sell our Better Bee Houses:

Antique Bee Houses

I'll bet you've never seen Native Bee houses like these before!  Denise loves to find antique wooden artifacts at flea markets and garage sales, and is the first to imagine them as homes for Native Bees.  Add the woodcrafting skills of Jim Murphy, and these one-of-a-kind pieces become stunning yard ornaments.  Recycling at its best!  The bottoms are protected to prevent rotting, and metal stabilizing bars are included with the taller pieces.  All nesting holes come pre-filled with both outer protective tubes and inner nesting straws. 

Bee Cocoons (Seasonal)

We have loose bee cocoons for sale for the Spring, 2010 season, and will ship until our supplies are depleted.  We are one of very few suppliers of Orchard Mason Bees on the east coast, and our bees are well-acclimated to any destination east of the Rocky Mountains. The cocoons were harvested last September, removed from their nesting straws, cleaned, sorted, and stored over the winter at 40 degrees to maintain their hibernating state. 

Bee House Supplies

The most important thing you can do for your Orchard Mason Bees is to maintain healthy nesting sites by keeping their environment clean and parasite-free.  Both our outer Protector Tubes and inner Nesting Straws are manufactured to meet our specific requirements:

Our outer Protector Tubes are made of heavy cardboard that is just thick enough to prevent predator wasps - the Darth Vader's of the OMB world - from inserting their ovipositors and laying their eggs in with the OMB larvae (then eating 'em up). These outer Protector Tubes are reusable and will last for many years as long as they are kept relatively dry. 

These Nesting Straws are definitely not just plastic drinking straws!  They are custom-manufactured with a 5/16" diameter, which has been proven to be preferred by OMBs and allows for the development of large, healthy offspring.  The inner surface of the nesting straws is slightly rough to help the mud adhere, and the outside is lightly coated to be moisture-resistant, but breathable, to help keep the bees dry during rainy spring weather.  The inner Nesting Straws are the only items that must be replaced each year, since they become soiled as the bee larvae develop to maturity.  The good news is, they're also very inexpensive!   Store