Many people confuse mason bees with carpenter bees. They are both solitary bees, but mason bee mandibles aren’t strong enough to cut wood. They rely on pre-made holes that birds or insects have made or utilize our nesting blocks that are custom made to fit mason bees perfectly. Mason bees use their mandibles to collect mud to lay their eggs and then plug their holes.
The old fashioned dirt dobers make mud nests also. How can I tell the difference?
Mason bees are small and look like a fluffy honeybee. Mud Dauber’s are wasps.