When starting out be sure to have the right bees for your humidity zone. 
  Apples are one of the later blooming spring trees.  For best results it is wise to refrigerate Orchard Bees in the spring when using them for apple production.  Most commercial or

chards have climate controlled coolers that are empty that they can place the bees into in the spring.  It is best to keep them around 40 - 45° f. with at least 70% humidity (60% for prorinqua).  If you do not have a cooler the bees can be placed inside plastic bags (or put the lid on you EZBEE NESTER)  and place a moist paper towel inside then refrigerate inside your refrigerator.    Be sure to open the bag at least once a month to allow fresh air in and to check for moisture in the paper towel.  This will keep the
moisture from being drawn out of the bees.
  I normally place the bees out 5 - 7 days before bloom starts (after the last pesticide sprays).  This gives them time to gather pollen (to activate final development of the females ovaries), to mate and establish their nests.  This seems to be about when you first see pink (or red) on the blooms.  The bees are not nor

mally harmed by fungicide sprays so normal fungicide spraying can continue. 
  Night time insecticides sprays can then be applied after pedal fall until the bees have ceased activities - avoid spraying the nests (covering is recommended).
  Because of the increased temperatures and massive amounts of bloom that are available when the bees have been delayed for apple bloom, people can get 4 to 10 fold population increases.  I normally get 3-4 fold increases.
  Once the bees are done nesting (in 6-8 weeks after emergence) you simply pick up the nests and place them in an unheated shed (preferably insulated) or garage and set a light trap for the monodontomerus wasps until late fall. The bees will hatch and develop into adults during the summer and fall.  All stages of development take place between 59° F. and 86° F.  Once development is finished the bees go dormant, they hibernate over the winter.  Orchard Bees require at least 30 days below 40° F. to break dormancy in the spring.
  Orchard bees will re-nest in the same existing holes until the old nest materials have built up too much.  That is why it is recommended that you replace your nesting materials once ever 3-4 years, trapping the bees out.  This will help control the populations of scavengers that feed on old nests and leftover pollen as the abandoned holes start to appear as well as helping to eliminate any problems with molds or fungus buildup that might occur if too many old nests are left.  I recommend disposal of the old nesting materials because re-drilling could contaminate the nesting holes with molds and fungus resulting in large numbers of larvae deaths.

Light trap,  Small light over bowl of vegetable oil.  Can help keep monodontomerus populations under control.