In summer the garden hums and hums. Bumblebees buzz everywhere in the beds and eagerly collect pollen and nectar. But appearances are deceptive. Unfortunately, the number of busy insects continues to decrease. With an insect hotel in your own garden you promote the preservation of species. Here you will find important tips on what is important in a shelter for bumblebees.
Wooden tubes attract both bees and sometimes bumblebees
Royal visit to your garden
The bumblebee is the only wild bee species that establishes a colony. Only the queen lets the drones mate with her. She is also the only one to survive the winter. The workers in her state die before that in the fall.
Unfortunately, bumblebee mortality is increasing in general. Of the around three hundred species found all over the world, only six species are found almost exclusively in Germany. By building an insect hotel that is tailored to the needs of bumblebees, you are helping to preserve these animals.
Useful helpers
Attracting and protecting bumblebees in your own garden is definitely worthwhile. Not only are the insects very peaceful, but they do a reliable job of propagating flowers and plants. The insects are sometimes active 18 hours a day and pollinate up to 1000 flowers during this time. They begin their work as early as February, when other insects are still slumbering peacefully. Wind and weather cannot harm the bumblebees. They owe this to their fat bodies.
support bumblebees
If the bumblebees are not finding much nectar at the beginning of the year, it is advisable to support them with mixed sugar water. To do this, dissolve simple table sugar in twice the amount of water.
Filling an insect hotel for bumblebees
claims of different kinds
The basic rule is: fill your insect hotel (€11.33) for bumblebees exclusively with natural material such as
- stones
- plywood
- bark wood
- or sound
In addition, different types have the following requirements:
- Ground bumblebees: stones (often settle in crevices or mouse holes)
- Field bumblebees: deadwood
- Tree bumblebees: abandoned bird nests
- Moss bumblebees: moss
Metal or plastic, on the other hand, have no place in a nesting aid for bumblebees.