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ed purpose.</p><figure id="a0a4"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*fD76ZXgsAru4qnQy"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@grmot?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">G-R Mottez</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="c117">It also goes on to emphasise how important cleaning and maintenance is:</p><blockquote id="89d1"><p>“This is the most overlooked part of having insect hotel. Taking care of insect hotel is just as important as building one. For example, bee hotels should be <a href="http://www.foxleas.com/make-a-bee-hotel.asp">inspected at the end of summer</a> to remove and clean dead cells.”</p></blockquote><p id="f7bd">There are also tips on how to encourage insects, especially pollinators, to see your garden as their refuge — about growing beneficial native species of plant for their nectar and pollen.</p><p id="410a">So my casual purchase of an insect hotel really required a much more thorough investigation before adding it to my shopping trolley!</p><p id="53ac">This is such a great article:</p><div id="e60d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://entomologistlounge.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/insect-hotels-a-refuge-or-a-fad/"> <div> <div> <h2>Insect Hotels: A Refuge or a Fad?</h2> <div><h3>If you are a gardener by hobby and a nature enthusiast by heart, chances are that you are already familiar with the…</h3></div> <div><p>entomologistlounge.wordpress.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*_y-XOAkJXok5Z7ti)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="2d0d">Why not build a super-duper multi-storey creature hotel that includes refuges for hedgehogs and toads as well as insects?</p><div id="7dfd" class="link-block"> <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/build-a-bug-hotel/"> <div> <div> <h2>Bug Hotel Plans DIY | Build an Insect Hotel — The RSPB</h2> <div><h3>Choose a suitable site. It needs to be level and the ground firm. You’ll get different residents depending on where you…</h3></div> <div><p>www.rspb.org.uk</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.

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readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*RiGmqlev06d6q2nz)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="41ac">Other Weeds and Wildflowers stories:</p><div id="e9ff" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/real-letters-and-cards-are-a-treat-71a1e20e7c3a"> <div> <div> <h2>Real Letters and Cards are a Treat!</h2> <div><h3>And not that expensive</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*NEEalY05tkm407pVgtSw5g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="e30f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/celebrating-the-teddy-bear-5afc6a9806ec"> <div> <div> <h2>Celebrating the Teddy Bear</h2> <div><h3>Teddy Bear Day is Celebrated Annually on 9th September</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*GG6ZIx1_gCupRxfSQfkylA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="03a6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-road-trip-or-a-trip-up-the-road-ab7fb2d21f59"> <div> <div> <h2>A Road Trip, or a Trip up the Road?</h2> <div><h3>I have a new appreciation of ‘road trips’</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*pEvCQoSLtHUHwntQOkQZhA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="bd5c"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B005HU4YWI?_encoding=UTF8&amp;node=283155&amp;offset=0&amp;pageSize=12&amp;searchAlias=stripbooks&amp;sort=author-sidecar-rank&amp;page=1&amp;langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader">Susan’s Amazon Page</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SusanAlisonArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">Susan’s Etsy Store</a> / <a href="http://xn--%20susan%20alison%202021%20susan%20alisons%20amazon%20page%20%7Csusans%20etsy%20store-04c13311e2a/">Susan’s newsletter sign-up</a></p><p id="6f00">Read more from me: © <a href="undefined">Susan Alison</a> 2021</p></article></body>

A CAUTIONARY BUG-HOTEL TALE

We Need a Tripadvisor for Insect Hotels

And I needed to look at it before buying!

Photo of a less-than-one-star insect hotel by Susan Alison

So there I was — all chuffed that I’d finally got an insect hotel — but then I looked it up, and I find I have the wrong sort …

*Note to self: Next time, Susan, research BEFORE purch(ase).

An insect hotel, or bug house, can provide vital refuge and habitat for a variety of species to shelter and nest. Solitary bees, ladybirds, woodlice and spiders would all be grateful!

These bug residences are especially good to have in fruit and vegetable gardens because they encourage insect pollination.

Photo by Marian Kroell on Unsplash

You can make your own — with a tied bundle of twigs and hollow plant stems, maybe bamboo; either hung in a sheltered place or pushed into a shrub. Using different materials will encourage different species of client.

Or you can go deluxe and make a dead posh one with a wooden frame.

Or you can do what I’ve done and buy a ready-made one.

Talking of which — I’ve got the wrong sort:

According to Jo-Lynn Teh-Weisenburger, Entomologist, in The Entomologist Lounge …

“ … these insect hotels are often badly designed and they offer unsuitable home to the target insects. The warning sign of such designs is the unnecessary use of pine cones, glued snail shells, wood shavings and clear plastic tubes. Too many off-shelf insect hotels or build-your-own websites do not come with clear guide on maintenance, which is very important in ensuring the survival of the insects we intend to host.”

So my recent acquisition has many faults! The Jo-Lynn Teh-Weisenburger article goes on to show how to fix it so that it works properly for its intended purpose.

Photo by G-R Mottez on Unsplash

It also goes on to emphasise how important cleaning and maintenance is:

“This is the most overlooked part of having insect hotel. Taking care of insect hotel is just as important as building one. For example, bee hotels should be inspected at the end of summer to remove and clean dead cells.”

There are also tips on how to encourage insects, especially pollinators, to see your garden as their refuge — about growing beneficial native species of plant for their nectar and pollen.

So my casual purchase of an insect hotel really required a much more thorough investigation before adding it to my shopping trolley!

This is such a great article:

Why not build a super-duper multi-storey creature hotel that includes refuges for hedgehogs and toads as well as insects?

Other Weeds and Wildflowers stories:

Susan’s Amazon Page / Susan’s Etsy Store / Susan’s newsletter sign-up

Read more from me: © Susan Alison 2021

Life Lessons
Education
Nature
Insects
Bugs
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