Wild bees, butterflies and bumblebees are some of the popular garden insects that are both beautiful to look at and useful. There are a lot of inconspicuous species that do their work in secret and feel at home in the insect hotel.
Different materials provide protection for different insects
Materials for the insect hotel:(11.33€)
- branches: ideal for butterflies
- plant stem: suitable for wild bees
- wood wool: attracts lacewings, ladybugs and earwigs
- cones: protect earwigs, small bugs and spiders
branches
Flexible and thin branches with a diameter of five millimeters provide a varied filling for the insect hotel. The butterfly compartment should be covered with a wooden panel that has several vertical slits. The insects get through these openings into the sheltered interior, where they rest and protect themselves from the winter cold.
plant stem
Differently sized, hollow and pithy stalks from different plants offer wild bee species a shelter. Bamboo sticks are just as suitable for insect hotels as reeds. To prevent the edges from fraying or splintering, you should cut the material into small pieces with a saw. Hollow plant pieces are attached horizontally in the insect hotel, while plant stems with pith are attached vertically. Solitary bees prefer branches of raspberries, blackberries, thistles, dog roses and lilacs that are about 50 centimeters long.
wood wool
Lacewings protect themselves from the winter cold in the insect hotel. Covers painted red attract the beneficial insects that enter the interior through pre-made openings. You feel comfortable in soft wood wool, because this offers warming spaces. Ladybugs and earwigs are also happy to accept the dwelling.
cones
The fruits of pine and fir provide spiders, lacewings, beetles and earwigs with hiding places during the day. Avoid using cones in the insect hotel for wild bees, because earwigs are considered pollen thieves. Better to provide the material in isolated dwellings near aphid colonies. So that the coniferous fruits do not fall out, you should attach a close-meshed grid in front of the compartment.
tips
Some wild bees build nesting tunnels in clayey materials. You can make your own clay for the insect hotel by mixing it with sand. When dry, the material should be workable with a fingernail.