Bee Condo Insect Hotel

An insect hotel is a manmade structure created from natural materials intended to provide shelter for insects. They can come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the specific purpose or specific insect it is catered to. Most consist of several different sections that provide insects with nesting facilities – particularly during winter, offering shelter or refuge for many types of insects. From Wikipedia.

Do a little research about beneficial insects in your region, and where they like to live. Look at some insect hotels on line and get a plan for the size and shape you want to build

I used old wood lumber from a old house. good reinforced corners! THIS NEEDS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD ROCKS AND BRICK!

I live in South Carolina, on the coast, so i gathered local things, pine straw, sea shells, local tree limbs

You need to drill holes in the wood and limbs, i used various size drill bits, small to a little bigger than a pencil .

now wear eye protection.

Arrange your Insect Condo's. Build compartments, add some boxes.

Cover the whole front with Chicken wire or something to keep things in place, from blowing away, or from some varment getting into it....

I cut a few "service ports" in the condos so i could add more after adding wire.

If You Plan to use Rocks "like i did" or bricks, two things. its heavy Honey, make sure you build the frame with that in mind! and you will need help moving it to the final location, you could leave heavy parts out and add them later on site after you get it in place?

you can see it is a very evolving project. and a Lot of Fun!

I will make and paint some signs and add to make the hotel signs, i like La Chateau Insectoid

Place your Bug hotel up in a mostly sheltered, part shade area of the garden or yard, away from wind. A Lot of insects prefer slightly moist conditions, you could put a big log or two to sit the Hotel on, close to the ground but not touching.

Make sure water does not flow into the hotel when it rains, a little is ok they are bugs after all, but not enough to drown them! Seems most solitary bees want the sunnier Spots if you live in a cooler climate. Once open Your insect hotel will have its first guest in days.