Insect potions: How to help bumblebees, bees and co.

Vital water source
Insect potions: How to support butterflies, bees, bumblebees and co.

The habitat of insects is shrinking and with it the population of animals. Water is an important source of life and not only serves to quench thirst, but is also needed for nest building. What can you do to counteract the insect decline? An insect waterer in the garden or on the balcony helps.

When the temperatures rise, not only people look for a cool down. Bumblebees, bees and co. also depend on the cool water. The animals are finding it less and less naturally due to shrinking habitats and the negative effects of agriculture. The little beneficial insects need the water to quench their thirst, but also to build nests. You can support the animals in a meaningful way by setting up an insect waterer. Here you can find out what you have to pay attention to and how you can build an insect waterer yourself.

Setting up insect potions: This is how it works

Finding a suitable water source is often difficult for insects. Their habitat is dwindling as people spread and agriculture reduces the quality of those who remain. If insects discover the cool water, they need a suitable landing place in order to be able to drink. The danger of drowning should not be underestimated, as this can prevent the small animals from drinking water.

Insect drinkers are therefore adapted to the beneficial insects and enable safe drinking with suitable landing places. The water must not be deep and elevations are needed on which the animals can land. You have the choice between practical insect drinkers, which were specially designed for their visitors and those you can build yourself. The former already have safe landing pads and only need to be filled with water. The latter, however, only require a few materials and can be built quickly.

Find the right place for the insect pot

Place the insect waterer in a sunny, warm place with as little wind as possible. Proximity to plants that are friendly to bees and bumblebees is ideal. You should change the water at regular intervals to prevent the development of pathogens.

Do-it-yourself water trough for insects

You only need a few things for the homemade insect drinker. The basis is a flat bowl, which can be crockery or a small bird bath. The insects need landing sites to protect themselves from drowning in the cool water. It is best to fill the shallow bowl with small stones, wood or plant materials such as moss, on which the insects can safely land.

materials

Build bug pots

If there are small landing spots in the form of stones, wood or plants in the insect waterer, fill them up with fresh water. Make sure that the stones protrude halfway out of the water. You can spread some moss between the stones and on the edge of the trough so that the insects have enough space to create enough landing places.

Source: Nabu, Geo

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