Their main use will be for pollination of crops (squash, melons, etc.) I will NOT be using a typical bee hive/using beekeeping. Plan to order them; was told on all the sites, that they start out dormant as eggs, and then become bees when warmer weather comes. Is this true? Know nothing about bees.
Was also told that unlike honey bees, they don't need a queen; is this true? Where in hive should the mason bees be placed? Does it matter if they're male or female?
I'm also wondering when I should order them. The main season here doesn't start till May 28th, so would ordering now be too soon?
I'd be getting a bee box for them, which would essentially be their nest; would this work? I can't post a link as to what it looks like, as it won't let me cause I'm a new user.