North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["dwalsh/wchase" <wchase@interchange.ubc.ca>]

Chris,

It is the Monodontomerus sp. wasp that bores through straw to lay eggs.    It 
is
very tiny and it is amazing that it can bore through the cardboard.

I wouldn't be worried about it ... it occurs naturally so just put up extra 
straws
to allow the Monodontomerus to take a few bees.

I've only seen it a couple of times ... when I had straws on the basement 
counter
waiting to be opened and cocoons sexed and counted.

If you are going to move the straws, don't move them too early ... it is 
possible
to knock the egg off the wad of pollen.  Wait until the egg has hatched into a
larva.  I'd wait until about ten days after the last bee action seen.

I had some BOB working on June 30 last year ... mind you that might be a bit
misleading ... I delayed the emergence of some of my BOB so I would have a 
longer
season.

In 1999, I didn't delay emergence, but I put out fewer straws than I 
anticipated
the bees would need.  My condos were almost full June 19, but I still had some
action.

That's in south coastal BC . zone 7/8

Derry

Derry Walsh & Bill Chase  email:wchase@interchange.ubc.ca
Aldergrove,  B. C.,  Canada
phone/fax (604) 856-9316
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Home web page  http://www.interchange.ubc.ca/wchase/HTML
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
weed control


: Hmm, I haven't had the problem with the wasps.  I remember that the
: nests are to be taken in to reduce/eliminate predation by a wasp that
: will drill through the sides of the nests to lay eggs on the
: developing bees.  Those wasps come out in June or so.
Chris Mauchline
: SE PA, zone 6



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
ClubMom is the first free organization dedicated to rewarding and celebrating 
Moms! Join today - it's free - and get your chance to win
in our $5,000 Family Vacation Sweepstakes!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/wq6iUD/TFaCAA/OZ8EAA/VTJVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/