Comments on: Cleaning solitary bee cocoons with sand http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/cleaning-solitary-bee-cocoons-with-sand/ Mason Bees, solitary bees and other native bees Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:32:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Paul Bee http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/cleaning-solitary-bee-cocoons-with-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-902 Paul Bee Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:32:01 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=215#comment-902 I prefer the sand cleaning method because it appears more effective at cleaning off mites that just water or bleach. The risk with a wet wash is the mould that I hear can cause problems for loose cocoons in storage. Would be interested in hearing about your new system. Cheers, Paul I prefer the sand cleaning method because it appears more effective at cleaning off mites that just water or bleach. The risk with a wet wash is the mould that I hear can cause problems for loose cocoons in storage.
Would be interested in hearing about your new system.
Cheers, Paul

]]> By: Leo Aerts http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/cleaning-solitary-bee-cocoons-with-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-884 Leo Aerts Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:53:52 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=215#comment-884 Dear bee friends, Being a newbee(?) here, living in Flanders-belgium (Europe), I designed a new system to cultivate Osmias. Is there any problem to wash and rinse the cocoons with city water? Dear bee friends,
Being a newbee(?) here, living in Flanders-belgium (Europe), I designed a new system to cultivate Osmias.
Is there any problem to wash and rinse the cocoons with city water?

]]> By: Paul Bee http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/cleaning-solitary-bee-cocoons-with-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-734 Paul Bee Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:50:14 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=215#comment-734 Well I have just invested a bit of money buying a router + bench a bit like <a href="http://www.grizzly.com/images/pics/jpeg500/g/g1023slw.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> this</a> although just slightly less solid. I figured that I needed to control the cuts and the set up - produce consistent tray patterns - and with all the safety features it seemed a good deal. The router is upside down and so the blade comes up through the specially designed bench and the wood is passed over it. I have still to figure out what wood to use, and of course that depends on the local timber yard. What wood do you use for your stacks and trays? And for your peekaboo design (you'll get the credits), I would assume the lid is perspex, but do you cut that yourself? I find it very difficult to cut. Oh and one other question, related to your cocoon cleaning... what time of year do you start this? Thanks in advance for your replies Gord! Well I have just invested a bit of money buying a router + bench a bit like this although just slightly less solid. I figured that I needed to control the cuts and the set up – produce consistent tray patterns – and with all the safety features it seemed a good deal. The router is upside down and so the blade comes up through the specially designed bench and the wood is passed over it.

I have still to figure out what wood to use, and of course that depends on the local timber yard. What wood do you use for your stacks and trays? And for your peekaboo design (you’ll get the credits), I would assume the lid is perspex, but do you cut that yourself? I find it very difficult to cut.
Oh and one other question, related to your cocoon cleaning… what time of year do you start this?
Thanks in advance for your replies Gord!

]]> By: gord hutchings http://solitarybee.com/blog/2010/02/cleaning-solitary-bee-cocoons-with-sand/comment-page-1/#comment-733 gord hutchings Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:52:20 +0000 http://solitarybee.com/blog/?p=215#comment-733 I know what you mean about routering but instead, I had some individual teeth made by a tool-and-die maker for my dato blade and used round-shaped teeth instead of flat-bottomed. It ends up looking like a routered channel and operates on my table saw. Very quick and easy. Wish I could show you what I mean but this is a 7"hub with 3 individual teeth that are bolted on. I had two sets of teeth made in 5/16" and 1/4" size. I'll put the final product up on my website sometime. Cheers, Gord I know what you mean about routering but instead, I had some individual teeth made by a tool-and-die maker for my dato blade and used round-shaped teeth instead of flat-bottomed. It ends up looking like a routered channel and operates on my table saw. Very quick and easy. Wish I could show you what I mean but this is a 7″hub with 3 individual teeth that are bolted on. I had two sets of teeth made in 5/16″ and 1/4″ size. I’ll put the final product up on my website sometime.
Cheers,
Gord

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