An insect hotel offers the animals protection and refuge, which is increasingly being taken away from them in nature. Nevertheless, the insects also make demands on their home. Numerous mistakes during construction mean that the insect hotel is not accepted. On this page you will find out what you need to look out for so that guests are happy to move into your shelter.
Tree discs that have been drilled through often have cracks and thus provide breeding ground for viruses and bacteria
Failed to build an insect hotel
- Wrong orientation/ wrong location
- mold growth
- No food supply in the area
- risk of injury
- danger from predators
Wrong location/wrong orientation
At this point, you have to consider two things: on the one hand, your insect hotel (€11.33) should always face the sun. Orientation to the south is therefore particularly recommended. It can be clearly observed that bees are more active at high temperatures and a lot of light. In addition, their larvae need sunlight to be able to develop healthily.
Secondly, your insect hotel must not be exposed to wind or rain. This led to moisture in the wood and the filling material.
mold growth
When the filling material becomes damp, it begins to mold. Protect the compartments from precipitation. Glass paneling also causes rot.
No food supply
When the insects hatch after a long winter, their reserves of energy are exhausted. Long distances to search for food are then a strain. If there is a better supply in the neighborhood, your insect hotel will remain uninhabited.
risk of injury
Cracks and sharp edges in the filling material can injure the insects' delicate wings. Therefore, avoid equipping with
- softwood
- Wood with bore against the annual rings
- broken stones
danger from predators
Cats don't sneak around the insect hotel because they enjoy watching the animals just as much as you do. Rather, they see a delicious meal in the insects. Therefore, attach your insect hotel at a sufficient height of at least 50 cm. A grid in front of the compartments helps to ensure that the animals do not fall victim to birds there.
Note: With the well-intentioned assumption of protecting the insects from the cold on icy winter days, some gardeners move their insect hotel to a warm location, such as the garage. However, this upsets the biorhythm of the insects. The warm temperature heralds the beginning of spring. The animals swarm out, find no food and ultimately starve.