Fortunately, many people are increasingly interested in preventing insect mortality. The wild bee in particular has become a symbol of animal welfare. After all, it is definitely worth protecting this insect species from extinction. The busy wild bees do an excellent job when it comes to making your garden bloom. Give the animals a small thank you with an insect hotel.
Wild bees like bamboo tubes
Which filling material is suitable for wild bees?
Since wild bees use an insect hotel (€11.33) primarily as a nesting place, narrow tubes are recommended in which they can lay their eggs. Either you use rods that are already hollow or you drill the holes yourself. Suitable materials are:
- bamboo sticks
- clay walls
- bricks or clay stones
- drilled hardwood
What to watch out for with drilled wood?
With this material, the type of wood is particularly important. Only use wood from deciduous trees such as
- ash trees
- Book
- Or fruit trees
Soft wood from conifers has the following disadvantages:
- Cracks form as it dries.
- Resin also escapes from the wood when it is sawn.
Cracks and sharp-edged nest entrances can injure residents' delicate wings. The animals usually recognize this in advance and avoid your insect hotel.
Resin is just as dangerous, as the insects get stuck in the sticky mass and can no longer free themselves. This means certain starvation or exhaustion death.
Therefore, after drilling, check carefully whether there are still uneven spots on the edges. Finish off with sandpaper.
location
If you observe your wild bees for a while, you will find that they are much more active when the sun is shining than on a rainy day. It is best to place your insect hotel in a sunny, warm place without drafts. A source of food should also be nearby.