DIY
Build an insect hotel: This is how you create new habitat for bees etc.
You can build your own insect hotel in just a few simple steps
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To protect the bee, you can also help secure the future of the small farm animal – for example with an insect hotel or the right pollen.
It is no longer a secret that bee populations are becoming smaller and smaller. One of the reasons for this is their dwindling habitat in which they can spread, such as trees and shrubs, perennials and flowers. This makes it all the more important to create new hibernation and nesting opportunities for the insects. In this way, you not only make an important contribution to preserving our ecosystem, but you can also derive your own benefit from it.
Long flowering times equal more food for bees
If you have a garden or a small balcony, you can help plant more food sources for bees by planting certain flowers, shrubs and trees. Here some examples:
- Winter jasmine is particularly suitable as bee food. It blooms in bright yellow tones at the beginning of the year (around January/February).
- Due to their evergreen leaves, Mahonias not only offer year-round retreats for bees, but also for other living creatures.
- cherry or Apple trees Enchant the garden in April with a colorful sea of flowers. For bees, a real feast begins with the flowering period!
- The so-called “bee tree” Euodia is just as rich in pollen and nectar: in August and September it is one of the most important food sources for the small beneficial insects.
- Aromatic ones are made in the garden or on the balcony Herbs such as thyme, rosemary, lavender and sage are particularly good because they benefit humans and insects alike.
Build an insect hotel: You need these materials
This offers another opportunity to set up even more wintering and nesting opportunities in your home garden Insect hotel. The artificially created area has enjoyed growing popularity since the 1990s: the effort is low, but the insect protection is extremely effective. This is partly because the materials used in them not only provide a home for wild bees and bumblebees, but also parasitic wasps, wasps, diggers, wasps, lacewings and earwigs.
If you have decided to build an insect hotel, you should definitely pay attention to the following tips – otherwise there is a great risk that the artificially created ones Nesting aids not be accepted. Or worse: the brood doesn’t survive the winter. With the following tips you will be well prepared:
- Hardwood such as beech, ash and oak – or even the wood of a fruit tree – is best suited for scaffolding. In any case, it is important to make sure that there is no moisture left in the wood, otherwise it risks becoming moldy.
- The same applies to all holes drilled by hand : These must always be done in the longitudinal direction, i.e. perpendicular to the direction of the grain. Otherwise, cracks will form more quickly in which moisture can collect and mold can form.
- When drilling, it makes sense to hollow out different holes of two to nine millimeters, with enough space between them. It is crucial that the holes are smooth on the inside, as splinters pose a great risk of injury to insects or their wings.
- Bamboo tubes are often installed – unfortunately many people forget to remove the inside of the stems. In order for the animals to accept them, the tubes must be neatly lined, positioned horizontally and closed at the end. Alternatively go too Cardboard tubes.
- There are a variety of materials that are often used, but are not suitable at all as nesting boxes: clay, pine cones, straws, plexiglass, glass, wooden bricks and concrete should definitely be left out.
- The location of the insect hotelplays an equally important role for its residents. A place in the sun (southeast to southwest) that Nesting quarters Protection from rain and wind is just as essential as a firm grip a few centimeters above the ground.
Source: Press portal
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