Insect Week 2024: The little things that keep this big world buzzing

 

All insects are creepy-crawlies, but not all creepy-crawlies are insects. These small, boneless creatures go by many names: arthropods, bugs, insects, critters and minibeasts. They buzz, they hop, they skitter and scuttle, flit, and yes, creep and crawl. Some insects are beneficial to us, while others may seem bothersome – however, all are crucial to our ecosystem.

Insect Week is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding about these fascinating species that make up half of all known living organisms. It aims to inspire people of all ages to appreciate the tiny but mighty creatures and take action toward preserving their habitats.

So, how can we learn more about the marvellous things they do for our ecosystem? We can start by inviting them into our own backyards!

So, roll up your sleeves and get crafty! Here’s how you can create a cosy bug hotel using a gabion basket – a welcoming home for your little backyard buddies.

Get Started

Materials You'll Need:

  • Gabion basket and helical connectors or cable ties: These form a sturdy base for your bug hotel.

  • Logs, pine cones, and twigs: Perfect for creating dark, woody habitats.

  • Compost: Provides food for earthworms and mites.

  • Bamboo: Offers nesting and hiding spots for bees and wasps.

  • Bark, dead wood, and twigs: Shelter and food for beetles.

  • Plant pots filled with hay, straw, or leaves: Makes dry, warm shelters for snails and bugs.

  • Hay, straw, and dry leaves: Warmth and protection for ladybugs.

  • Bricks: Additional nesting spaces for bees.

  • Cardboard: Insulation and moisture retention.

  • Tiles: Use these for the roof to protect from the elements.

Assemble Your Basket

  1. Build the Base: Fold up the sides of the gabion panel and secure them with helical connectors or cable ties. Repeat for all four sides, leaving the top open.

  2. Fill the Basket: Arrange your materials inside the basket. Create nooks, crannies, crevices, and tunnels for the insects. Arrange the materials horizontally to keep water out and make it easy for bugs to move around.

  3. Close the Basket: Fill the basket to the top, ensuring a snug fit. Secure the lid with helical connectors just like the corners.

Add the Roof and Attract Pollinators

  • Roof: Use tiles or other roofing materials to protect the bug hotel from the weather.

  • Flowers: Add flowers on top to attract pollinators and bring even more life to your garden.

For more tips and tricks check out WireFence’s bug hotel tutorial. 

With your bug hotel completed, it's time to relax and witness the wonder in your backyard ecosystem. These tiny creatures may often be overlooked, but they play an important role as guardians of our environment. By maintaining soil health, recycling nutrients, pollinating flowers and crops, and controlling pests, insects prove to be more than just creepy-crawlies. Inviting them into our spaces, we create safe havens for biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems against obstacles like climate change and loss of habitat.

So let's cherish and safeguard these creatures, ensuring a flourishing planet for future generations!

This blog has been written by guest blogger Orsi Magyari. Thank you so much for your efforts!

 
Orsi Magyari