Wild Bee Nesting Aids:
Pay attention to these 5 points
Wild bees have specific requirements for nesting aids. The type of wood, the type of drilling, and the condition of the nesting entrance are crucial for the well-being of cavity-nesting wild bees. We present the 5 most important points you should consider before purchasing or building a wild bee nesting aid.
1. The material of the nesting tunnels
The material used should be breathable and as sturdy as possible to limit mold and the proliferation of parasites in the nesting tubes. For our BeeHomes, we use giant reed (Arundo donax), also known as Spanish cane. We chose this reed because of its diameter and resistance. Unlike common reeds, the thickness of the Spanish cane limits the spread of parasites and parasitic wasps between nests and protects the offspring.
2. The hole diameter
Each wild bee species prefers specific cavities. Pay attention to the length of the nesting tubes and the number of species that nest in tubes of that diameter. Our tubes have a diameter of between 5 and 11 millimeters and are perfectly suited to the needs of the mason bees that we supply with our wild bee nesting aid. The BeeHome can also accommodate around 20 other species, such as the blue orchard bee.
3. The tube cutting
A nesting tube should be closed at one end so that a mason bee feels secure. Ideally, each nesting tube should have a node at the end of the tunnel. The node corresponds to the natural dividing wall of a reed stalk. Therefore, we ensure that each nesting tube of our BeeHome has such a node by cutting them individually by hand. The nesting tubes should also not be too short. In the BeeHome, our cuttings, which are more than 13 centimeters long, have proven successful.
4. Nature of the entries
Wild bees prefer smooth nesting entrances that they can crawl in and out of without risk of injury. They ignore splintered and fibrous tubes. For this reason, all our reed tubes for the BeeHomes are carefully sanded. In addition, we do not use glue to attach the tubes, so as not to deter the wild bees with its smell.
5. Protection against moisture
Many nesting aids are made of unsuitable softwood. In this type of wood, small cracks appear in the holes, moisture penetrates, and fungal infestation threatens the brood. A roof with a wide overhang offers additional protection against moisture. We use pine plywood from sustainable forestry, certified with the PEFC seal.
High quality & locally made
Every BeeHome is unique and handmade. Often enough, the houses offered on the market are produced in China for a few francs each. To be able to offer such a low price, the working conditions are questionable. We have deliberately chosen to carefully manufacture our BeeHomes in social & local workshops and to keep our ecological footprint as low as possible. Only after strict quality control is a beehive allowed to leave the carpentry workshop, well and plastic-free packed, to offer a new home to the important pollinators.
Did you know?
We are Kassensturz test winners!
In 2019, "Kassensturz" tested nine nesting aids for wild bees. Only three were good, and our BeeHome Classic was THE BEST! Many others did not fulfill their function. You can find the full article, detailed test results, and what to look for when buying a nesting aid here.
SRF Kassensturz rated our "Beehome Classic" with an overall score of 5.3. The expert jury's conclusion: "The tubes are all cleanly finished, and the large roof provides good protection from moisture. However, the tube diameters are too large for many bee species."
We were able to solve the problem mentioned with our unique BeeSummer: The additional module offers ideal nesting conditions for many summer species and can be easily attached to the BeeHome: The BeeSummer extends the wild bee house into a valuable home for many more wild bee species.
