How does an insect hotel work?
Most guests in an insect hotel are solitary bees, such as the mason bee. Each female looks after her nests on her own. In a single tunnel, it goes like this:
- Choosing a tunnel. In spring, the female crawls into a hollow stem or tunnel.
- Building a supply. At the back, she collects pollen and nectar. That becomes the bee bread for her larva.
- An egg and a wall. She lays an egg next to it and builds a little wall of mud or plant material. Then she starts on the next chamber.
- Closing the door. Once the tunnel is full, she seals the entrance. A closed hole means young bees are growing inside.
- Out into the world. The larva eats the bee bread and pupates. A year later, the young bee gnaws its way out.
Do you see closed holes in your insect hotel? Then leave it hanging undisturbed until the young bees have come out. Ladybirds use the hotel differently. They crawl into it to shelter.
A good spot for your hotel
Wild bees are quite picky. A hotel facing north or under a tree often stays empty, according to Dutch Butterfly Conservation. Run through this list before you hang it up:
- The openings face south or south-east.
- The spot is dry and sheltered from heavy rain.
- The hotel hangs at least 1 metre above the ground.
- It is firmly attached and doesn't move in the wind.
- There are no branches or leaves in front of the holes.
- There are flowers nearby, because that's where the bees get their pollen and nectar.
No garden? A south-facing balcony works too. Put a few flowering plants next to it in a balcony planter or in outdoor flowerpots, and the food is ready and waiting.
Make your own insect hotel or buy one?
Making an insect hotel is a fun job for a Sunday afternoon, also with children. Of course, you can also buy one. The difference is mainly in the work beforehand and the maintenance.
Material
- Make it yourself: A block of untreated hardwood, not impregnated wood
- From elho: Made with recycled plastic
Tunnels
- Make it yourself: Drill holes of 5 to 8 mm, about 10 cm deep. Don't drill all the way through, and make the tunnels smooth, without splinters
- From elho: Ready-made interior
Roof
- Make it yourself: Make a small roof of metal, plastic or rubber yourself, so the nests stay dry
- From elho: The plastic outer casing keeps the rain out
Maintenance
- Make it yourself: Wood cracks and goes mouldy. After 2 to 3 years, you need a new block
- From elho: The inner and outer parts come apart, so you can clean them easily
Hanging
- Make it yourself: Make a sturdy hanging fixture yourself
- From elho: Ready to hang up or stand
Doing it yourself? Then skip pine cones and straw. According to Dutch Butterfly Conservation, bees hardly ever nest in them. Natuurmonumenten has a handy building guide. Would you rather have a ready-made hotel straight away? Then take a look at the collection for biodiversity in your garden.
More life around your insect hotel
An insect hotel gets more visitors if there's also enough to eat and drink nearby. With a few small things, you can make your garden or balcony a lot more attractive to all kinds of insects.
Flowers from spring to autumn. Bees and butterflies look for nectar and pollen all season long. Choose native plants with open flowers, such as oxeye daisy and harebell. If you have little space, put them in a planter close to the hotel.
Something for the caterpillars. Butterflies lay their eggs on host plants, which the caterpillars later feed on. Hemp agrimony and ivy are host plants that also provide nectar.
A drinking spot. Fill a deep dish with water and put a few stones in it that stick out above the water. Insects can land on them safely to drink. With rainwater from a rain barrel, you can quickly top up the dish.
A messy corner. In autumn, leave some leaves and dead stems lying around. Lots of insects crawl into them to get through the winter.
No poison. Leave sprays, granules and ant bait boxes in the cupboard. Those substances are harmful to the insects in your garden.
Want to start small? Then first put one flowering plant next to your insect hotel.
Frequently asked questions about insect hotels
Which insects live in an insect hotel?
Mainly solitary bees, such as the mason bee. Sometimes a leafcutter bee moves in too. Ladybirds mainly use the hotel to shelter.
When do you hang up an insect hotel?
In early spring, so that insects can use the hotel immediately after their hibernation and before the mason bees start flying. They are mainly active from March to May. If you hang the hotel up later, there's a good chance the first guests won't arrive until the following spring.
Is a large insect hotel better?
Not necessarily. What matters most is good tunnels and a sunny spot. A small hotel that's well placed often gets more visitors than a large hotel facing north. If you have plenty of space, you can also hang two hotels side by side.
Can an insect hotel stay outside in winter?
Yes, just leave it hanging. The young bees overwinter in the closed tunnels until they gnaw their way out in spring. If you move the hotel, you disturb them.
How do you clean an insect hotel?
Only clean the empty parts and leave closed holes alone. An insect hotel from elho comes apart, so you can reach the interior. A soft brush and warm water are enough.
