1. Tutorial
« Build an insect hotel »
A good practice implemented by « Graines de Jardiniers »
Association – Shared gardin in Lauris (France)
2. Summary
• An insect hotel, what is it ?
• Steps of the project
• Construction step by step
• Equipment and materials
• Advices from those who built it
• Arguments in favor of such a project
3. An insect hotel, what is it ?
Definition
It is a heaven for useful insects in
the garden.
Useful insects in gardens are:
those that pollinate flowers,
who are predators of insect pests
(those that harm crops).
How does it work ?
These hotels encourage the
presence of beneficial insects as
they can find refuge in winter.
4. Steps of the project
Preliminary steps
– Learning about insects:
– Choosing a model (size and shape) Here are ours:
Learn to recognize them, know their habitat, life cycle, feeding,
breeding, find out how to welcome in the garden.
It can be an opportunity to create information sheets on insects,
which could be useful also later (to inform the curious persons).
5. Steps of the project
Implementation
– Draw the plan
– Build the insect hotel
(see after the « step by step construction »)
– Install it
(think about the place protected from strong wind)
– filling the interior space
(see after the « Materials list »)
22. Equipment and materials
Equipment list
For the hotel’s structure
• handsaw
• circular saw
• bracket
• sanding machine
• screw gun
• power drill (8mm
diameter by 15 cm
long to drill pieces of
wood)
• pencil
• hammer
• jigsaw (for fences
box )
• stapler (if grid)
• crowbar and maillet
• disc grinder
To fill in the hotel
(to cut sections of cane)
• shears
• secateurs
• jigsaw
23. Equipment and materials
materials list
For the hotel’s structure
- Wood
- Ironmongery
- Angle-brackets
(to be inside for
the hotel is straight)
To fill in the hotel
‒Wood (for logs :
rather hardwood
for sustainability)
‒brick
‒Cane
‒Sureau
‒Roseau
‒Pinecones
‒Cagettes (to make
"millefeuille" of cagettes)
‒Bunch of brambles
‒Bark
‒Straw
‒Stones
‒Flowerpots
‒Old wood
‒Heather
‒Pragmite ...
24. Advices
• Make a plan! "We made our first hotel in insects without a plan, it was difficult! “
• For materials: you will of course need untreated wood: quite difficult to find. Move closer to work
sawmills (who have more choices and are better advices).
• The equipement : a hand saw is enough to build a small hotel. But depending on the size of the
project, it had better be better equipped ... or have lots of time.
• Some information may be hard to find (with which material do I furnish habitat insect? Which
insects live in our region?) Maybe you can save time by asking associations that undertake
inventories and know well about it.
• Technical advice: some insects like to dig their shelter in the mud, so sections of cane is filled with
mud. For filling with mud, ensure cut sections cane just below the node to be able to fill.
• To improve the comfort of your guests, plant a flower meadow, they will have the food and shelter!
To protect them from predators, you can put wire on the hotel.
• And if we did it again ? What does the team of “Graines de jardiniers” answers: "Perhaps you would
build only one hotel at the same time, three, what a job! "" We would take more time to think
about different hotels, Totem style or another. "
25. Arguments in favor of such a project
• A good project to create a group dynamic: it is a good practice easily
accessible to a group of gardeners and allows teamwork
• a way to learn a lot about insects (even about computer practice at the
same time: research, writing insects sheets, ...)
• a good way to learn about DIY
• a useful equipment for the garden (at the biological level)
• a social tool: a teaching aid for schools
• These hotels arouse curiosity and attract new supporters to the garden
• These are works of art, beautifully integrated in the garden
26. it's your go, now !
Many thanks to each member of « Graines de
Jardiniers » for his/her dedication and kindness.
This tutorial was created by Réseau
des Jardins Solidaires
Méditerranéens (« thanks! » Gwen)
under the european project
« EUGO » (exchange of good
practices).
This project has been funded with support from the
European Commission. This publication (communication)
reflects the views only of the author and the Commission is
not responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.
