Did you know there are blue-green bees in Texas that don’t sting? They’re called Mason Bees! Their name refers to the fact that they typically use mud or other "masonry" materials for making nests, and they help pollinate fruit trees like apples, plums, peaches, and pears, and flowers. For this DIY, we’re making a Bee Hotel for our local pollinator friends. Bee Hotels create a safe space for Mason Bees to lay their eggs, helping pollination for seasons to come. This DIY is a great way to explore animal habitats and socio-environmental systems with your family!
What You’ll Need:
- A wooden or plastic frame, plastic bottle, or a tin can (recommended)
- Tape
- Hollow bamboo canes or paper/toilet rolls (optional)
- Twigs/Sticks (optional)
- Paper/Paper Bags
- Garden String/Twine
- Pencils
- Scissors
- Utility Knife (for adults only)
- Decorative materials: sequins, stickers, markers, paint, etc.
Building Tips and Tricks:
- Ask your child what they know about bees and different animal habitats before beginning the activity.
- Make sure the rolls of paper do not stick out of your bottle, can, or wooden frame.
- The small mason bees prefer a hole that is 5/16” in diameter, which is the diameter of a regular drinking straw. Large drinking straws cause her extra work building her walls, and she can’t fit in smaller drinking straws.
- When decorating, make sure the inside stays clean and clear of glitter or glue! It will not be conducive for the bees!
- Choose a secure site facing the morning sun where the bee hotel will not be bumped or blown around; movement can damage their eggs.
Ready to share your Bee Hotel? Be sure to tag @TheDoSeum and use #DoSeumAtHome we love seeing all that you create!
Download Mason Bee Hotel Instructions
TEKS:
1st – 5th Grade Science: Organisms & Environments - §112.12 (1.1D), §112.13 (2.1C), §112.14 (3.1C), §112.15 (4.1C), §112.16 (5.1C) , §112.13 (2.9A), §112.14 (3.9A), §112.15 (4.9A), §112.16 (5.9A)