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Where to obtain tubes for bee hotels.

young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
in Wildlife gardening
I have looked on e   bay for 'tubes for bee hotels', but tubes results in some sort of neck or head wear.

Some of the  larger diameter bamboo may work, but the hollow part only goes a short distance. Not sure yet what length is needed. Need to look at some clips on YT maybe.
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Posts

  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 651
    You can find them on masonbees.co.uk on the shop page, depending on how much you want to spend.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,105
    We use the tubes from Steradent tablets. We get through an inordinate number of them.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,194
    We use bamboos as we grow many different ones and therefore are able to have different sizes in length and diameter.
    Watch out for the greater spotted woodpeckers (if you have them in your garden) as they will peck away to get the larvae out. We have had to put wire mesh but fixed onto a frame to stand away from the tubes as the peckers can still peck through the mesh if directly over them.
    Fascinating to watch the tubes filling up.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    There's a long thread here, with lots of info on tubes and nest boxes


  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    @Palustris
    What sort of diameter are the steredent  tubes-about 20mm? I save tubes  from effervescent vit C tabs, and put small drill bits in them. Would you say they are about the same diameter?. By the way, would I need to cut the base off of the tubes or leave them?
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    @bertrand-mabel
    Can you tell me please what is the the min & max diam bamboo you use . I imagine there is an ideal diam? 

    Also, thank you for the heads up regarding  the Greater spotted woodpecker. 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,283
    On eBay and Amazon you get lots of results if you enter “bee tubes”. They strike me as being over priced but it will give you an idea of recommended dimensions. Would plastic tubing work? There’s a huge choice of sizes and colours on eBay and it’s very cheap, 
    Rutland, England
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    I would avoid the use of plastics, as well as glass or metals - any non-breathable materials. They can encourage mould.

    This is a good overview.

  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    edited January 2022
    Crazybeelady said:
    You can find them on masonbees.co.uk on the shop page, depending on how much you want to spend.

    This is a good place to source paper tubes if you want to try that route.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,105
    The tubes are about an inch (my thumb just fits). Never bothered doing anything other than gluing them together to make a matrix. Never had any trouble with mould growth either. Smaller insects colonise the spaces between the tubes too.
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