Bee Hotels

Bee Hotels give wild bees and a number of other insects a place for resting, shelter and feeding. Even though solitary bees do not make honey, they are important pollinators and are much less likely to sting! Solitary bees will use the hotel as a breeding place and will lay their eggs inside the space provided. They build cells inside the spaces and add pollen and nectar which will later feed the larvae. Afterwards they seal the holes with leaves or mud.
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Bee Hotels have become rather popular in the last year and there is an overwhelming choice of designs, materials and sizes. We gathered some easy instructions on how to build your own Bee Hotel and some important Do’s and Don’ts.

How to build a Bee Hotel
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• Gather your materials  
  • You can chose to make the frame from recycled materials such as large plastic bottles, metal cans, old bird houses, or untreated lumber.  
  • Find materials that bees will nest in. Cane, bamboo, bramble, reeds, and wood blocks with various sized holes (2mm - 10mm) work best. 
  • Keep it as simple or complex as you like
• Build your frame
  • Make sure the edges are smooth
  • Build a roof or cover from the rain
  • Make sure your materials won't leak chemicals that can harm the bees, such as chemical treated wood.
• Fill the frame
  • Fill it tightly with various materials of different internal diameters  (bees love spaces of 3-5mm).
  • Make sure materials have smooth edges, and are not open all the way through.
  • Close the sides and back of the structure with clay, cotton, or wool to prevent water or pests from sneaking in. 
• Place your Hotel
  • Choose a dry and sunny spot to place the structure
  • Keep it steady and off the ground.

Do

• Keep it small! Large hotels with many compartments will attract more pests and disease can spread easily. Consider creating multiple smaller ones and placing them in different locations.
• Keep it sunny! Your hotel should face south or south east and should be at least 3 feet above ground.
• Keep it dry! Your hotel should have an overhanging roof, so the bees stay dry
• Keep it clean! Replace sections as soon as you can detect mold or parasites. Clean your hotel once every year in late spring after the bees left it. Reeds should be replaced every year, wood every two years.
• Keep it safe! You can leave your hotel outdoors, or store it  in a cold and dry space such as a shed. Never put the hotel in a warm location in winter.

Don't

• Use glass tubes: Even though you might be interested in spying into your newly built hotel, glass and other materials that do not allow moisture to exit are not a good fit. Even if wild bees willingly settle in them, the moisture can cause fungal infection which will kill bee larvae.
• ​Neglect sharp edges: Do not use materials that could hurt the fragile bee wings!
• Use harsh chemicals: Make sure materials such as woods, glues and paints won't leech harsh chemicals that might harm the bees. 
• Forget to provide food and water: Bees will need different types of plants providing them with nectar and pollen. If possible, create a wildflower patch.  Bees also need water. They are happy with a tray filled with rainwater and landing pads (rocks or corks).

For more tips, and inspiration, check out this in-depth guide to bee hotels from Michigan State University.