Which insects prefer which material?

Frequent residents

• Wild bees and wasps
• Butterflies
• Beetles, especially ladybugs
• Lacewing and earwigs

Wild bees and wasps

• Bricks or clay stones, the holes of which you fill with hollow branches
• Uninhabited snail shells (you have to secure these with a grid to prevent them from falling out)
• Mud bricks are wonderful for laying eggs
• Plant stems like bamboo tubes
• Drilled wood, never drill into end grain, otherwise cracks will form, it is best to use hardwood

Note: You must ensure that the items do not have any sharp edges, especially when setting up the compartment for bees and wasps. The flying insects recognize the danger of scraping their delicate wings at the corners and consequently avoid the shelter offered. Softwood has a tendency to crack if drilling in the wrong direction. You should therefore only use hardwood. Recommended suppliers are apple trees or beech trees. Other positive properties of these types of wood are that they do not resin, are durable and do not warp even when damp. When drilling the holes, choose different ones diameter and depths to suit every animal.

Butterflies

• thin, flexible knots, recommended diameter: 5 mm, work small cracks into the wood as an entrance

Beetles, especially ladybugs

• Bark mulch or dried firewood
• Fir or pine cones
• Wood wool, as the material stores heat
• Foliage, completely dried to prevent mold from forming

Lacewing and earwigs

• Fir or pine cones
• Straw as a nesting place and winter quarters
• Wood wool in a red-painted compartment with small holes as heat-storing accommodation, absolutely free of harmful substances

Note: Any material should be completely dry before installation to prevent mold from forming. You should also have your Insect hotel(€ 11.33 at Amazon *) regularly check for rotten content. You should nest material that remains uninhabited for a long time remove.