A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR OWN HOMES ARE THESE INSECT HOTELS, IN WHICH SPECIFIC INSECTS CAN FIND SHELTER OR HIBERNATE. DIFFERENT CABINETS PROVIDE SPACE TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSECTS LIKE WILD BEES, BUTTERFLIES, LADYBUGS AND LITTLE SPIDERS. THET ARE ECOLOGICALLY USEFUL FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND IT IS FUN TO SEE HOW THEY LIVE IN OUR GARDENS.
THE CABINETS HAVE THE FORM OF A HONEYCOMB AND ARE HUNG APART FROM EACH OTHER SO THAT DIFFERENT INSECTS DON'T HAVE TO BE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. HANGING THEM WITH THE POINT UP AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SMALL OVERHANG WILL HELP ENSURE THEY STAY DRY ON THE INSIDE. THE DEEPEST CABINET, WHEN FILLED WITH DRY LEAVES AND TWIGS, FORMS A NESTING SPACE FOR BUTTERFLIES. THE SMALLER CABINETS WITH WIRE COVERS CAN BE FILLED WITH VARIOUS MATERIALS. DEPENDING ON THE INTENDED 'RESIDENTS' THE FILLING CAN BE VARIED AND EXPERIMENTED WITH, OR YOU CAN USE THEM AS A DECORATIVE SPACE. THE CABINETS FILLED WITH BAMBOO AND A WOODEN BLOCK WITH SMALL HOLES ARE USED BY SPECIFIC BEE SPECIES TO LAY THEIR EGGS IN. SIMILAR FOR ALL CABINETS IS THEY CAN BE OPENED FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE.
