Insect Hotels

897tgigvib

Garden Master
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
5,439
Reaction score
925
Points
337
Now that's something! Something special for each insect critter!

5 STAR *****
 

hoodat

Garden Addicted
Joined
Apr 28, 2010
Messages
3,758
Reaction score
509
Points
260
Location
Palm Desert CA
I see solitary bees in my garden but I haven't been able to get any to move into what I offered them. I think perhaps my soil is too sandy for them to be able to seal the ends of the tubes. There is no clay close by. I have a lot more luck with burrowing wasps who keep my caterpillars under control. Army worms and cutworms seem to be their favorite prey. Cabbage worms get worked over pretty good by the yellow jackets.
 

lesa

Garden Master
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
6,645
Reaction score
570
Points
337
Location
ZONE 4 UPSTATE NY
How fun are they? I hung a mason bee house, years ago- and failed to attract even one....
 

897tgigvib

Garden Master
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
5,439
Reaction score
925
Points
337
I don't think it needs to be all that big and fancy. Salamanders seem to enjoy the cheap half a star hotels under a loosely placed piece of half rotted wood, and the bumblebees would so enjoy a sleepy night under the stars on a coneflower.

But, just like myself, never standing a chance of being in a 5 star hotel, it's still nice to know they exist, and see pictures of them!
 

Southern Gardener

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Messages
1,558
Reaction score
8
Points
142
Location
NW Louisiana Zone 8a
Lesa, we hung a mason bee house also and didn't get a single one either - I think the insect hotels would add interest to the garden tho.
 

baymule

Garden Master
Joined
Mar 20, 2011
Messages
18,810
Reaction score
36,948
Points
457
Location
Trinity County Texas
Oh those are so cool!! That really apeals to my I-can't-throw-this-away-because-I-might-use-it-for-something-someday!! Whether any bees, or other critters moved in, it sure would make a fun project for me and my grand daughter! Plus, it would make a attractive-in-a-weird-way garden decoration. :throw
 

thistlebloom

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
16,473
Reaction score
17,411
Points
457
Location
North Idaho 48th parallel
Some of those are pretty neat looking. I agree Joan, they'd be an interesting focal point in the garden even if you didn't get bees to nest in them.
 
Top