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Housekeeping for bug hotels

alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
in Wildlife gardening
Having seen many a bug hotel but neither bought or built one myself I wonder if anyone could tell me if  housekeeping of some kind  is required to keep them safe and habitable for the bugs or whether they look after themselves. 
Thank you. 

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,527
    We have 3 around the garden made from bamboo that we grow.
    Our biggest problem has been with the greater spotted woodpeckers. We love them in the garden but in the first 2 they pulled the tubes out to get the grubs inside. Had to put mesh over to stop them.
    The latest one had only been up half a day when they came and clung to the wire to get again at the grubs.
    So another wire band has been put on slightly elevated.
    We don't do anything else except for replacing some of the tubes some years.
    Great to watch and see the tubes filling up.
  • WeaveyDaveyWeaveyDavey Posts: 575
    @alfharris8: I use quite an amount of homegrown dried cow parsley (or Alexanders) stems in my 'bug abodes'. Stems are hollow, with closures (like bamboo - at leaf nodes). + dried grass, dry leaves & fir cones (windfalls off big trees in nearby park etc..). All gets stuffed in for best fit & any shrinkage is thus accommodated over time. Nett cost - ZERO! All the best with your "Nature Care" efforts!
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