In summer you can sometimes hardly save yourself from swarms of insects. In winter, on the other hand, they seem extinct. Just like us humans, insects also retreat into the warmth during the cold season. At best, you can make a contribution by providing species-appropriate winter quarters in your garden.
Insect hotels offer shelter and warmth to insects during the winter
wintering strategy
Most insects hibernate in winter. In this state, the organism shuts down. The heart beats slower, the body temperature also drops. This results in lower energy consumption. To keep them nice and warm, many species, such as ladybugs and bees, gather together in a cluster. In winter, many insects go to the following places:
- abandoned sheds and barns
- garages
- wall columns
- burrows
- house ledges
If the opportunity arises, the insects penetrate through open windows into heated apartments. At high room temperatures, hibernation is not necessary.
Nesting aids in the garden
Unfortunately, people are not very happy when the shelter-seeking insects have nested in the apartment. Rather build the animals their own home in the form of an insect hotel. Different filling material attracts different species and keeps the insects warm. The equipment should only be made of natural materials. Are suitable:
- cones
- Brick, clay or mud blocks
- thin branches
- straw
- drilled hardwood
- natural wood wool
Align the insect hotel to the south, even in winter. The more sunlight the animals get, the better. Also make sure you choose a wind-protected location where no moisture can form.
Further measures?
If insects have gathered in the nesting aid, you must not change the location under any circumstances. The idea that the animals would be better off overwintering in a warm place such as a garage is understandable, but would mean certain death for the insects. A sudden change in temperature would make the insects think it was spring already. They then become active and consume energy that they cannot supply at the time due to a lack of food.
For the coming spring you should therefore make sure that there is a source of food in the immediate vicinity. Early bloomers are great for this.