The Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes is the best value for most yards, since it packs 92 nest tubes at the recommended 5/16 inch diameter into a single $26.95 kit. The Handmade Bee House, Single costs more at $46.95 but is built from white pine with a removable nesting chamber, making it the better choice if you want a house you can clean and reuse for years rather than restock with fresh tubes each season.
What Makes a Mason Bee House Effective?
A mason bee house works by offering narrow nesting tubes close to 5/16 inch in diameter, which female mason bees fill with mud-sealed egg chambers through spring. The housing itself just needs to keep those tubes dry and sheltered, since mud-filled tubes that get soaked can be ruined before the bees emerge.
How Many Nesting Tubes Does Each House Include?
The Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes includes 92 Kraft paper cardboard tubes at 5/16 inch in diameter and 6 inches long, housed in a biodegradable molding of rice hulls and bamboo. The Handmade Bee House, Single and the Diamond Western Cedar Mason Bee Shelter don't state a tube count on their own product pages, since each is sold as a reusable house rather than a fixed set of disposable tubes.
Which House Is Easiest to Maintain Year After Year?
The Handmade Bee House, Single has a removable nesting chamber built in for easy cleaning and maintenance, so the same house can be reused season after season. The Diamond Western Cedar Mason Bee Shelter takes a different approach: its fiberboard nesting tubes are meant to be replaced each spring after the mason bees have emerged, with refillable tubes sold separately. The Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes is built around disposable cardboard tubes, so refreshing it means buying a new kit rather than cleaning the one you have.
Which House Is Made From the Most Durable Material?
The Handmade Bee House, Single is made from white pine and is handmade in Canada, built to withstand the elements as a long-term outdoor structure. The Diamond Western Cedar Mason Bee Shelter uses western cedar for its housing, a wood naturally resistant to rot and insects. The Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes uses a biodegradable rice hull and bamboo molding for its housing, which is designed to be cost-effective rather than to last indefinitely outdoors.
Which Should You Buy?
Choose the Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes if you want the most nesting tubes for the lowest price and don't mind replacing the kit each season. Choose the Handmade Bee House, Single if you want a reusable wooden house with a removable chamber you can clean out and refill yourself. Choose the Diamond Western Cedar Mason Bee Shelter if you want a cedar housing with a defined annual tube-replacement routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Tube Diameter Do Mason Bees Need?
Close to 5/16 inch, which is the diameter the Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes uses for its cardboard tubes and the size its product page recommends.
Where Should a Mason Bee House Be Mounted?
Somewhere that stays dry, such as under eaves, since the product page for the Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes warns that mud-filled tubes can be ruined if they get soaked.
Do I Need to Replace the Tubes in the Diamond Western Cedar Mason Bee Shelter Every Year?
Yes. Its product page states that the fiberboard nesting tubes should be replaced each spring after the mason bees have emerged from their nests, with refillable tubes sold separately.
Can the Handmade Bee House, Single Be Used for Bees Other Than Mason Bees?
Yes. Its product page states that the house suits both Mason bees and Leafcutter bees.
How Much Does a Reusable Wooden Mason Bee House Cost Compared to a Disposable Tube Kit?
The Handmade Bee House, Single costs $46.95, compared to $26.95 for the Jumbo Mason Bee Nest Kit, 92 Tubes, a $20 difference that buys a removable, cleanable chamber instead of tubes you replace each season.
