New Videos! UC Davis Bee Lab Series

We recently spent an amazing 2 days filming inside the UC Davis Bee Labs with researcher Abigail Lehner, exploring predators, cocoon health, nesting surprises, winter storage tips, and the latest findings from backyard mason bee hosts and the houdini fly update.

This brand-new video series gives you a behind-the-scenes look at real research, real specimens, and real discoveries that will help every mason bee host better understand and care for their bees.

Below are all 5 videos from our Live-in-the-Lab trip!

Thank You for Being Part of This Learning Community

Together with UC Davis researchers, we’re committed to helping hosts learn more, protect native bees, and support healthy pollinator habitats across the country.

Mason Bees & Predators (Recorded Live): UC Davis Bee Lab with Abigail Lehner & Thyra McKelvie

In this recorded Live in the Lab session, you’ll learn directly from UC Davis researcher Abigail Lehner as we explore the inner workings of mason bee biology and the challenges they face.

What Else Is Nesting in Your Bee Hotel? + Full UC Davis Bee Lab Tour

Abigail gives us a tour of the bee lab and pulls out bee trays from research collections to show what other critters may use your bee hotel and shows you what they look like under the microscope.

How to Store Mason Bee Cocoons Over Winter – Humidity Tips for Success

Learn how humidity impacts cocoon survival and see the actual lab protocols UC Davis uses for proper winter storage. Essential for anyone storing their own cocoons.

What We Learned from Backyard Mason Bee Hosts: UC Davis Research Update

For three years, Abigail has partnered with Rent Mason Bees to study nesting tubes placed in the backyards of volunteer hosts across the Pacific Northwest. Learn what research has taught her about urban and rural habitats.

Houdini Fly Update: Where They Are, Future Research & How to Report Them

Get the latest update on the invasive Houdini Fly: where they’ve been found, how to spot and report Houdini Fly during your fall cleaning and learn how they’ll be studying them this spring in Oregon.