When the first rays of sunshine warm the ground, the young queens start looking for a suitable place to nest. If natural structures such as deadwood, burrows or crevices are missing, nesting boxes can help. However, correct placement is important.
Bumblebee houses should be in the shade
choose location
A bumblebee house needs a place that is shaded all day. Trees, hedges and shrubs with dense foliage are ideal sources of shade. The north side of a building also offers protection against overheating in the insect hotel. (11.33€) Make sure that the location is quiet.
forage plants
In order for the bumblebees to find enough food in the area, you should set up the house within two to three meters of pollen dispensers. Leave nearby areas of the garden untidy and do not regularly mow them so that weeds can develop.
Valuable food plants:
- Early bloomers like crocus, snowdrop and deadnettle
- Large perennials such as forest goat's beard or purple loosestrife
- Shrubs such as hazel, sloe and daphne
Inappropriate locations
When choosing a location, remember that bumblebees are sensitive to weather conditions. Temperatures that are too high or too low are just as dangerous as rain and snow. Although the insects are known to fly when it rains, they detest this weather.
east
Occasionally it is advised to place a bumblebee hotel in an easterly direction. The morning sun may be beneficial to the growing colony in the spring. In summer, temperatures inside quickly rise above 40 degrees Celsius, putting the entire colony at risk. Such locations are unsuitable.
west
Bumblebees don't like it when the nest gets wet. The bumblebee boxes should consist of a weather-resistant multiplex. Place them in the garden so that wind and weather cannot penetrate through the entrance opening. An alignment in a westerly direction does not make sense, because the entrances are directly exposed to the rainy weather.
Ant-proof stand
So that the bumblebee's nest is not attacked by ants during the summer, a sewer base pipe has proven to be the perfect pillar for the dwelling. These are available with a suitable KG sleeve in hardware stores. They are driven into the ground and then the sleeve is put on. If you fill them with water, ants can no longer crawl towards the entrance opening.