Help Bees & Beneficial Insects With A Simply Beautiful Insect Hotel / Bug House

[@SN-sz7kw]

Lovely. I am devoted to my Mason Bees. I wait every spring for them to emerge. I think I’m on the 12th generation of my first batch. They’re amazing. 💗💗💗

[@LouciferFlump]

These are great, especially the large one at the end. I have a few shop bought ones that already have regular residents, but these larger, homemade ones you’ve created here have inspired me that I really would like to make my own on a larger scale! Thanks!!🤗👍🏻

[@amykellygardening]

That's a great idea! The bigger ones can be a real garden feature and you can add in your own personality 😁

[@webdesignbelfast]

Amazing Amy. What a great idea for everyone. Away to find things to build mine!

[@amykellygardening]

Fantastic! It's a great project to do with kids because of all the fun they can have finding things to fill the insect hotel 😊👍

[@klaus-peterschweizer1814]

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@amykellygardening]

😁🐝❤️

[@debbiesittard7653]

Amy, you are so beautifully creative, I'm getting so many wonderful ideas. Thank you, for sharing these greats things. ~ Debbie, NE Texas

[@amykellygardening]

Thanks for the lovely comment Debbie! 😊

[@debbiesittard7653]

@@amykellygardening 😊

[@twelvesmylimit]

Depth of the tubes for solitary bees should be at least 100 mm deep. This is to provide enough space and winter protection for the growing larvae. The diameter of the tubes should vary from 6 to 10 mm. Many ready-made bee homes have tubes with diameters of over 10 mm. These holes are too large for UK bees (though of course other insects may make use of them).

[@twelvesmylimit]

We should also make them waterproof and bring into a shed or similar in the autumn and winter and put back out in spring.

[@twelvesmylimit]

By the way, you have a lovely, calming presence and your videos are wonderful.

[@amykellygardening]

Thanks for that info! I agree and should have specified the depth, but remember that there are lots of insects like wasps, spiders, flies and mites that aren't as popular, but that are still a valuable part of the ecosystem, so if the holes don't suit a bee then something is bound to make use of them ☺️❤️

[@amykellygardening]

I wouldn't recommend moving anything with insects already in it. You might accidentally trigger something like a mason bee to emerge too early. Better to put it in a fairly sheltered spot on day one and just leave it in place. I'm so glad you watched my video and thanks for the brilliant comments 🥰

[@amykellygardening]

Awww, shucks 😚

[@peterc2248]

What is the ideal direction for the holes to face pls?

[@amykellygardening]

South because that gets the most sun, BUT any area that gets unshaded sun for at least part of the day will be perfect. 👍

[@peterc2248]

@@amykellygardening Many thanks 🙂

[@ruthnarendran8775]

Very doable. Brilliant idea. Thanks Amy

[@amykellygardening]

Thanks 😊

[@shangrila9745]

I read that the minimal depth for mason bees is 10 cm, as they lay several eggs (each in its own compartment) and males are in the first sections. Pine wood should be avoided due to splinters which can hurt the insects. Doesn't autumn start on 20-21 September in the Northern hemisphere?

[@amykellygardening]

Thanks for the great comment! 😁 There are two different start dates for Autumn (or Fall), the calendar date, called the "meteorological date" which is Sept 1st, and then there is the Autumn Equinox, which is later in September as you say - I think it's September 22nd this year. They just love to confuse us don't they! Mason bees get their name because they can burrow through masonry, such as soft bricks and the mortar/cement around bricks, so I wouldn't worry about splinters as they would be able to clear any to whatever extend they want, and you're quite right that they like a burrow depth of up to 10cm. Remember that there are lots of species of solitary bees and wasps, so if possible try to provide a range of habitats for your insects.

[@shangrila9745]

@@amykellygardening thanks for the explanation about Autumn definitions. About the mason bees, their name comes from the fact that they use mud, so apparently they use both mineral and woody environments depending on which Osmia "type" they are. I didn't realise that, so will definitely add some bricky thingies! The local forestry team kindly gave me a few trunk slices last year which I left to dry for one year, and bore holes in this spring. The osmias quickly spotted the new habitat and about 80% of the spaces are now occupied until next spring. I did add a little roof to protect the habitat from rain.