Hi @Anonymous

They keep laying eggs until they die and this is about June 

Males die quite quickly (I believe) I do not have much research

but they do not live as long as the females for certain.

I think all the males will mate with several females as they hang around.

the box waiting for them to emerge.

I can recognise the males as they are smaller than the females and it is

noticeable that they are not about for very long.

When the males first emerge it is about a week or so before the females and

they have lots of time to feed up on nectar ~ so they do have a bit of a spree.

Total times are egg to cocoon 3 months ( I don't have specific times inbetween that

Mason Bee breeders have worked out October for other breeders info.)

Other Breeders put clear sides on the tubes to watch progress, so they have

given a safe time and that is October ~ I clean about 4th - 8th depending how

I can get time.

Once they are in cocoons then they are ready to clean.

HAPPINESS IS BEE SHAPED

Hi @Anonymous

I do have some info on it ~ I made notes sometime ago.  I have been looking after bees for about 5 years.

The bee larvae hatch a few days after the eggs are laid.

They eat the food been stored for them in their cell about 10 days (I think)

The larvae then spins a silk cocoon and pupates ~ by October they are 

a bee and wait until Spring.

Thanks for asking ~ 

HAPPINESS IS BEE SHAPED

Hi @Anonymous

Thank you for asking questions on this topic.

I have enjoyed it very much.

PS

No Mason Bee (female or males) will sting

they do have a sting but it is very mild, like them I suppose.

If you get a chance next time you are in a park or garden check out the

bees ~ 

HAPPINESS IS BEE SHAPED

Hi @Anonymous

Understood.  Thanks for your interest.  Best wishes TallTrees

HAPPINESS IS BEE SHAPED

Fascinating topic @TallTrees  thank you.

Mind you, my encounter with some "wasps" in the summer was not good, disturbed a nest and a few decided to sting me near the eyes. Ended up in hospital for a few hours, I'm sure they "attacked me"!

Hi @dgilbert2

Thank you for your kind words.  Very much enjoyed by me.

Wasps ~ wasps if disturbed in nest or on travel seem to always attack.  In fact I have noticed that they tend to go for you even when trying to avoid them when a person is in their path of flight.  Nasty! very focused some of them attack bees too ~ some attack bee hives ~ bees can sort most of them out though. That experience sounds terrible hope the stings didn't last too long.

HAPPINESS IS BEE SHAPED

Thanks @TallTrees  must admit it was a tough few hours, really bad headache and swelling round the eyes for 24 hours. Took anti histamines and all sorted in a couple of days. I was very brave