You can build an insect hotel from very simple materials that you probably have on hand at home. Depending on the type of insect hotel, the construction also takes little time and requires hardly any manual skills. Only the depth of the frame and the drill holes play a decisive role in determining whether the insects will later appear in large numbers. If you follow the tips on this page, there will soon be many animals in your garden.

An insect hotel should be deep enough

Dangers at too shallow a depth

Wild bees seal their nest holes after laying their eggs in them. Doesn't it matter how deep you drill the holes? Not at all, because every now and then birds peck open the nest closures with their beaks and try to get at the larvae. If the narrow tubes are then deep enough, they don't stand a chance.
On the other hand, for this reason, you should never completely drill through the holes. Without a back wall, the larvae are exposed to nest predators from both sides.

Build an insect hotel yourself

Although the commercially available models make a professional impression, most insect hotels are unfortunately not suitable for species-appropriate keeping. Here the optical advantages are in the foreground. It is therefore more advisable to build your own insect hotel (€11.33). With these tips, your shelter will be much more effective than a purchased copy.

The right stuff

When building your insect hotel, only choose hardwood from deciduous trees such as

  • apple trees
  • plum trees
  • ash trees
  • or booking

This prevents cracks from forming during drying, which could injure the insects.

The right measurements

  • Hole Width: 3-5mm
  • Hole depth: 5-10 cm
  • The holes should be slightly slanted.
  • Don't forget to clear the sawdust from the aisles.
  • - Relevance of drilling direction

Never drill into the longitudinal wood, but always in the opposite direction to the grain. As already mentioned, you are not allowed to drill tunnels. If you still want an approach path on both sides, simply drill passages into both sides of the wood, which end on a back wall.

Category:

Animals in the garden