Bug Hotel: How to Attract Tenants

[Stringmaker]

Apart from the obvious signage, what else can be done to make this property with vacant posession more appealing?

I was maybe thinking of masking it a little with hay or something, or shall I just wait for word of mouth amongst the bug community to do the trick?

 

[mountainm]

Closer to the floor or somewhere more sheltered maybe?

 

[MartinK9]

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/

HTH

 

[Bowlander]

My log pile is full of bugs - feel a bit guilty putting them on the stove! I do give them a good tap before I bring them in.

 

[Stringmaker]

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/

HTH

I checked; they don't have the relevant category!

 

[Stringmaker]

Closer to the floor or somewhere more sheltered maybe?

It is fixed under the eave of my shed, at the end of the garden which gets the sun for most of the day. My logic for putting it there was that it was sheltered but also likely to be warmer than a shady part of the (North facing) garden.

 

[Kepis]

I just leave the ones i make out in the garden in sheltered spots, the bugs will find them eventually, just let nature run it's course

 

[Stringmaker]

I just leave the ones i make out in the garden in sheltered spots, the bugs will find them eventually, just let nature run it's course

That's what I was hoping; thanks.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Are those things for attracting bugs so that they attract birds?

 

[dwardo]

I just stung mine from the fence near an apple tree. Its was pretty much full last time i checked.
This was a few months ago.

 

[bilmo-p5]

Apart from the obvious signage, what else can be done to make this property with vacant posession more appealing?

Forget about it for a few weeks. When you look again it'll be crawling.

 

[Harvestman]

These things attract insects that are seeking somewhere to nest, or those seeking somewhere to hide. Either way, they will come to you.

Personally, I think a selection of holes of different diameter is best, as iut gets a bit of diversity, but what you have will work. Just leave it alone. Insects will find it.

 

[Stringmaker]

Are those things for attracting bugs so that they attract birds?

That is one of the end results yes, but I wasn't thinking of creating a fast food van for the birds, I just wanted to give the bugs a bed for the night too.

 

[CraftyLDN]

I'm in a similar position, got a similar design to that too. But the only tenant at the moment is a fairly large spider - doesn't seem to want to share(!)

 

[Stringmaker]

I can now report that our bug hotel is occupied

On a sunny Monday afternoon we were watching her busily clearing out that hole. It is now sealed up, presumably with some baby bees to be safely inside. She wasn't the only visitor so there may be a full house eventually.

She made a super job of reaming out the fibres from the drill hole too; it was fascinating to watch.

 

[Toddy]

Excellent

How do you stop a spider using it as a fast food place though ? or do the insects fight back ?

cheers,
M

 

[Stringmaker]

I don't know.

We'll have to take turns to guard it with a rolled up newspaper!

 

[Harvestman]

Excellent

How do you stop a spider using it as a fast food place though ? or do the insects fight back ?

cheers,
M

Spiders are bugs too you know!

Seriously, I'm not sure you can, short of evicting every spider who calls in.

 

[Stringmaker]

Mrs Bee has been seriously busy. Obviously all the previous buzzing around was her checking out the neighbourhood, the schools, parking etc...

Looks like we passed the test

 

[Elen Sentier]

Grand! Looking fwd to the next stage . Let the spiders do what they will, they get hungry too and have young to feed!