Nail a few boards together to form a basic structure, fill this with natural material and the insect hotel is ready. It's so easy to build that almost anyone can make their own insect hotel. Luckily, more and more people are doing the same, because the animals are more and more dependent on our help. With the increasing supply of accommodation, the insects can even become choosy. If you follow the tips on this page, your neighbors will soon be wondering why their insect hotels are suddenly uninhabited.

An insect hotel should be placed near flowers

Benefits for humans and animals

The most important tip of all: set up an insect hotel (€11.33). Not only the animals benefit from the safe shelter. They will thank you by ridding your garden of pests. Ladybugs feed, for example, on annoying powdery mildew on vegetable plants and roses. In addition, documenting and observing the various insect species can become a worthwhile hobby. Every garden offers the opportunity to set up an insect hotel. Small models even fit on the balcony.

location and weather

  • Face your insect hotel to the south.
  • Protect your insect hotel from precipitation.
  • In no case should you use glass as the outer material. There is an increased risk of mold here.
  • Cover your insect hotel with a little edge.
  • Impregnate your insect hotel with odorless beeswax to protect it from moisture. Conventional paint deters insects.
  • Make sure there is plenty of food available in the area, such as a wildflower meadow.
  • Do not change location even in winter.
  • Install the shelter at a minimum height of half a meter to protect against cats.
  • Pay attention to stability.
  • Ensure a clear approach path.

Attract many insect species

  • Choose a sensible subject division.
  • Offer different filling material.
  • Drill holes of different diameters.
  • Paint your insect hotel red.
  • Regularly remove feces, cobwebs and animal carcasses.
  • Also tolerate nest predators and do not encroach on the ecosystem.

Creative insect hotels

Not all commercially available insect hotels are effective. Build your hotel yourself. Unusual ideas are, for example, insect hotels

  • tree slices
  • cans
  • pallets
  • tree trunks
  • clay pots
  • wagon wheels

Category:

Animals in the garden