I bought a couple of bug hotels this summer and after installing them I was bitten by a wasp. For the first time I had a violent reaction both at the site of the bite (upper right arm) and my left forearm where some rose thorns had drawn blood. Huge red weals on both arms which eventually needed steroids. Hope your insect life shows more gratitude than mine for their new, very elegant winter abode. May I ask how expensive the constituent parts are to buy?
I'd put the chopped timber on the bottom and the bamboo higher up. The kind of insects that would appreciate the wood (woodlice centipedes, beetles etc) would find it easier and solitary bees like to be as high as possible to avoid the plug (with which they seal the hole) getting wet and exposing the larvae.
I have read this with interest as I want to make one for our garden here in France. It has been a good year for bees, and butterflies. Unfortunately it has also been a thriving year for those awful asian hornets and our neighbour has a contraption in the gardn that has caught some. I will start looking around the garden for bits. Is there a good or bad place to position one of these?
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That is the prettiest bug hotel I've ever seen, fits in perfectly with the terracotta pots you have. Well done Sheps it's lovely ? ?
Thanks very much, Kitty...praise indeed
Sheps...
I bought a couple of bug hotels this summer and after installing them I was bitten by a wasp. For the first time I had a violent reaction both at the site of the bite (upper right arm) and my left forearm where some rose thorns had drawn blood. Huge red weals on both arms which eventually needed steroids. Hope your insect life shows more gratitude than mine for their new, very elegant winter abode. May I ask how expensive the constituent parts are to buy?
Unlucky you re the Wasp, Esspee
Price of the constituent parts as follows
Clay Cavity Liners ( both sizes ) £7.40 each
Clay Air Bricks x3 £8
Moss £3
Canes and Timber were free as I already had them.
Sheps...
Very smart Sheps - and two visitors there already.....
Far better than my jumble of logs and all sorts round the side of the shed....
I wonder if any insects will set up home in the air bricks on my new 'stension
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'd put the chopped timber on the bottom and the bamboo higher up. The kind of insects that would appreciate the wood (woodlice centipedes, beetles etc) would find it easier and solitary bees like to be as high as possible to avoid the plug (with which they seal the hole) getting wet and exposing the larvae.
Last edited: 08 September 2016 20:35:55
Hi Fairy...my two visitors might want to eat any bugs that turn up, so I might persuade them to move to another part of the garden
Thanks for the advice, Thh...I'll swap them around in the morning.
Sheps...
Hi Sheps,
I like these brick frames to make bug hotels. May I ask where to purchase these clay bricks? Awaiting for your reply, many thanks!
B&Q
I have read this with interest as I want to make one for our garden here in France. It has been a good year for bees, and butterflies. Unfortunately it has also been a thriving year for those awful asian hornets and our neighbour has a contraption in the gardn that has caught some. I will start looking around the garden for bits. Is there a good or bad place to position one of these?