April 26 column: Insect hotel

Our new insect hotel.

Here is a link to my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Insect hotels keep good bugs cozy. (or you can read it lower in this post.) I’m glad today is finally here because I’ve been so excited about presenting this topic to you!

It’s about adding an insect hotel to the garden. The purpose is to attract more pollinators and beneficial insects to it… and that’s a very good thing. My husband, Bill, and I recently made one.

Be sure to watch my video!

I also shot a video showing how our insect hotel went together. This includes the materials we used to fill it with.

What’s really exciting is that we’ve already got “guests!” We’ve been seeing solitary bees coming and going. There might be other types of insects we can’t even see in it. I’ve been wanting to take a photo of one of the bees for you. They’re just so darned fast, it hasn’t happened yet! But I’ll keep trying…

I hope this column and the video will inspire you to create your own insect hotel.

Here are some helpful links:

• A Google search on images of insect hotels
• A Pinterest search on insect hotels
• Info on building an insect hotel and materials to use

Insect hotel garden column:

by Susan Mulvihill

Spokane’s newest hotel is open for business — the insect hotel in my garden, that is. Putting out a welcome mat for the bugs might not be on your list of things to do. I’m determined to attract more pollinators and beneficial insects in mine.

Insect hotels are one way to do that. I first saw one in a botanical garden in Basel, Switzerland, and loved both the look and purpose of it. They are also referred to as bug hotels, bug banks, bug condos and wildlife stacks.

What are insect hotels?

The concept behind them is to provide cover and certain types of materials to draw in pollinators and good bugs. That way, they will hibernate and nest in your garden. They will attract include mason bees, other solitary bees, ladybugs, parasitic wasps, beetles, lacewings, moths and spiders.

Do a web search on insect hotels or look for photos of them on Pinterest. You’ll be amazed at the variety of designs out there. I did some research and then constructed one.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Insect hotels can be any size or shape you want. They must have a roof to protect insects and the structure from inclement weather. They should face south and be located in full sun. The hotels are most successful when placed near native trees and shrubs. Herbs that bloom, wildflowers or other flowers will draw in beneficial insects. Mine is in the vegetable garden which includes an herb bed and many types of flowers insects are drawn to.

On the Swiss version I saw, they had planted a green roof with succulents which I thought was very appealing. I’m hoping to copy that idea, using volunteer succulents from my garden this season.

How I assembled ours

I wanted to keep costs down and also help the insect hotel blend in with my landscape. I used recycled lumber and other materials. My hotel is constructed from old rough-sawn fence boards and definitely has a rustic look. I placed it on a level surface and secured the back to a metal fence post. That was to keep it from toppling over in strong winds. (I certainly wouldn’t want a bunch of cranky insects on my hands, right?)

Once the insect hotel’s frame was built, I filled it with materials that will draw in the insects. I have to admit this was the most fun part of the project. The accompanying information box has all sorts of suggestions.

I’m considering attaching chicken wire or hardware cloth in front of the sections containing mason bee tubes or other materials. I fear woodpeckers might snatch larvae from them. I’ve already placed the mason bee tubes a couple of inches back from the front opening just to be safe.

This is a great project to involve kids in. Why? It’s an opportunity for them to learn about the insect world. They’ll especially enjoy helping gather materials, filling the insect hotel’s cubbyholes and watching insects come and go.

I’m anxious to see how mine does. I had so much fun creating it, I’m already considering making another one for the orchard.

For more information and photos of the construction of my insect hotel, visit my blog at susansinthegarden.blogspot.com.

INSECT HOTEL FILLER MATERIALS

• Logs or wood blocks with 1/4” to 5/16” holes drilled into them
• dry leaves and branches
• masonry bricks containing holes
• mason bee tubes
• bamboo
• clay pots
• driftwood
• pinecones
• roofing tiles
• rolled-up paper or cardboard
• wood scraps
• reeds or straw
• loose tree bark