Everything we see in nature depends, in some way, on bees: they are essential for the reproduction of most plant species and, consequently, for the animals that feed on them to grow. 75% of the world’s crops depend on their pollination or that of other insects. In other words, without bees there is no life.
However, currently these small insects are dying at a rate of 30% per year, a rate that represents twice what is considered normal. The cause of this accelerated mortality has to do with pollution, global warming, agrochemicals and other factors that have humans as the main culprits.
In critical populations, the mortality rate reaches a worrying 80%. This means that the bees are facing a serious danger on the planet; there is even talk of extinction threats. But the problem is much deeper: if the lives of bees are at risk, then so will the survival of plants, animals, and the human race itself.
That is why it is our responsibility to do something to help them. There are ways to collaborate with them, such as making seed bombs to reforest from the air. Building a hotel for bees, believe it or not, is a simple project that could help protect this important species.
Why a hotel for bees?
Although it sounds funny at first, the hotel or sanctuary for bees has an explanation. Within the species, there are different “jobs” that bees perform: you probably know that there are queen bees, worker bees, bees that fertilize other bees and pollinator bees. But, in addition, although we call them all “bees”, the reality is that there are more than 20,000 species of them. And although we are used to thinking that they are grouped in hives, most of these species are solitary, that is, they do not group in colonies.
The “hotels for bees”, or structures usually made of wood with holes and tunnels installed in a garden or balcony, serve to house these solitary bees and make their task of pollinating plant species easier.
Also, if you have a garden or flower plants that you would like to see multiplied, nothing better than attracting bees to your garden!
The construction of these structures is extremely simple. You just have to gather some wood, reeds, logs, rods or bricks and place them so that there are spaces between them. You must also pierce them, creating tunnels and holes within which they can find shelter. You can give the structure the shape of a house.
Below, you will find several bee hotel models that can serve as inspiration.
You can put together a fairly elaborate little house like this one, with several compartments, and include different elements and materials in them, such as straw, logs with holes, perforated bricks or twigs, and use netting to hold the small elements.
But you can also quickly make a hotel like this by filling old tin cans with twigs.
This is another luxury option.
Just like this one: a real palace!
But you can also make one like this, similar to a mailbox.
This is another simple and small model.
And this one is so well designed, that it is also a nice decoration piece.
Use your creativity to help this very important species!