DIY Project: Build Your Own Insect Hotel
Attract the right kind of creepy crawlies to your vegie patch and flowerbeds with this smart insect hotel
Not only do insects serve an important role in local ecosystems, they’re also an attractive addition to gardens. Insects such as stingless native bees, parasitic wasps and lacewings play an essential role in keeping down pest numbers in and around the vegie patch and flowerbeds. You can encourage them to take up residence at your place with this eye-catching insect hotel. It’s easy and economical to make, and is a loud shout out to all the friendly insects hovering in your postcode.
What you’ll need:
- A small display case (or materials to make your own). Ready-made woodcraft display frames can be bought from art and craft suppliers
- Non-toxic spray paint
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Saw
- Lengths of bamboo, twigs and twine
- Assortment of acorns, she-oak seedpods, small rocks, straws, wooden skewers and wooden blocks with pre-drilled holes
STEP 1: Head outside to a sunny spot that’s protected from the wind. Put the case on a large piece of disposable newspaper or cardboard. Shake the spray can well, then apply an even layer of paint to the front of the hotel, making sure that you paint in the corners. Allow to dry, then turn over and paint the reverse side.
STEP 2: Once dry, apply a second coat of paint. Leave to dry.
STEP 3: Once completely dry, measure the depth of the case with a ruler to determine what length the bamboo and other hotel materials need to be.
STEP 4: Mark out each of the lengths of bamboo (or twigs, twine, wooden skewers, etc) with a pencil.
STEP 5: Cut the pieces to size. For the bamboo, aim for an assortment of widths with different-sized hollows to house a variety of beneficial insects.
STEP 6: Arrange the cut lengths into the insect hotel rooms, along with the collected rocks, acorns, seedpods and wooden blocks. You can use a hot-glue gun to secure the bits into place. Pack it tightly but still try to have plenty of nooks and crannies that the insects can shelter in or lay their eggs into.
STEP 7: Choose a sheltered spot that’s safe from the rain to hang or display your insect hotel (a spot under the eaves of your house – and not too far away from the garden beds – is perfect). Then stand back and wait for your guests to arrive.
TELL US
Have you made an insect hotel lately? Post a photo or tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
DIY Project: Make a kokedama string garden
DIY Project: Paint ‘em pretty pots
DIY Project: A driftwood centerpiece alive with succulents
TELL US
Have you made an insect hotel lately? Post a photo or tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
DIY Project: Make a kokedama string garden
DIY Project: Paint ‘em pretty pots
DIY Project: A driftwood centerpiece alive with succulents