Insect hotels

Last post 24-10-2012 11:54 AM by Pesty. 4 replies.

• 05/10/2012 03:13 PM

  Stuart Location: Manchester Joined on: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 8

  Reply | Contact Does anybody know of an insect hotel that has actually attracted any insects to live in it?  I have built a couple of these myself and also looked at 5-6 others in a variety of different locations and I have never seen any signs of life apart from the odd cobweb.  All of the ones I have looked at have a variety of different habitats and are along the lines that various organisations recommend.  It occurs to me that insects may prefer to inhabit the central parts so they are not visible but that would negate the whole point of having these as an educational tool. So if you have one that has been successful, it will be great to hear about that and know how you build yours.

• 05/10/2012 03:33 PM

  In reply to

  Pesty Location: At a desk Joined on: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 324

  Reply | Contact Dr Ken Thompson produced an article in Gardening Which? about this sort of product a year or so ago (he tested then). In summary - it is better to be a bit untidy (leaving leaf litter, seed heads, have a log pile/compost heap etc) than to buy expensive products which are very unreliable. The only things of this type of product that do reliably work are the solitary bee nests, but you can construct these cheaply yourself. 'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson

• 05/10/2012 04:05 PM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4,071	Reply | Contact Agree with Pesty - having looked in many insect hotels, apart from the solitary bee nests, they generally don't have anything in them except dust and cobwebs. The log pile at the back of our courtyard is well used - wood wasps make their own holes and we often find little piles of sawdust where they've been excavating.

• 24/10/2012 10:38 AM

  In reply to

  Stuart Location: Manchester Joined on: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 8

  Reply | Contact  Thanks for the replies. I certainly didn't buy one (far too tight for that!)  No, we made some at a couple of schools from old pallets, pipes, prunings and wood cuttings. I've also found that more natural woodpiles are more successful.I have put grren roofs with herb beds on the insect hotels so they're not a complete waste of space, photos here if you're interested:  http://ithinkitsacarrot.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Insect%20hotel

• 24/10/2012 11:54 AM	In reply to
  Pesty Location: At a desk Joined on: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 324	Reply | Contact They are excellent and will attract many invertebrates - over time. 'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson