While the native honeybee might come to mind when someone says “bee,” many other types of bees exist. Communal in nature, other types of bees include mason, leafcutter, and carder bees, among many others. And, just like honey bees, other bee types play an important part in pollination.
Although these bee types don’t live in traditional hive boxes, they will occupy a structure specifically built for them if you make it. Called a bee hotel, the structure can provide living space for these important insects, even in the city. Creating a bee hotel is easy when following these three steps:
Step 1: Construct the Frame
Start by building the frame for the bee hotel. Be careful not to use fresh, pressure-treated wood to construct the frame and outer walls of the bee hotel, because the chemicals used might actually deter the bees from taking up residence. You can probably get away with using older, pressure-treated wood.
The size of the typical bee hotel ranges in size from small to large, with the average size around 8 to 12 inches, or about the size of a birdhouse. Keep in mind that when building a bee hotel, aim for a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches.
The frame of the bee hotel needs to have an enclosed backside to protect the bees from predators and an open front to allow the bees easy access. The roof of the structure must have a slope to shed any rainwater and overhang at least by 2 inches. Roof material can vary, with wood or metal being commonly used.
You can choose to leave the frame unpainted, painted in a favorite color, or protected with a simple wood sealant. Expect any paint or sealant you apply to keep bees away, at least until it cures and the smell subsides. Until then you probably need to let it air out in a well-ventilated area.
Step 2: Add Holes for Living Space
Depending on the length of the frame, cut logs from tree branches or find scrap lumber to fashion the living area for the bees. Just make sure to cut all of the materials used to the same length. Small bamboo, hollow reeds, and plastic tubing are also viable alternatives if you want to use something other than wood.
One thing to keep in mind is the size of the bee you want to attract. To accommodate this, drill holes of varying sizes, usually ranging from 1/8 to ½ inch in diameter. You should also space them at least 1/2 to ¾ inches apart to ensure that each bee has some privacy.
Hole depth depends largely on hole size, with holes ¼ inch or smaller 3 to 5 inches deep, and larger holes having a depth of 5 to 6 inches deep. Drill as many holes as you can fit in each block in the frame, making sure to smooth out each opening to remove any splinters using sandpaper.
Step 3: Mount the Bee Hotel
Finally, mount the bee hotel in an area where bees frequent, including on a fence post, outside wall, or another vertical surface. To make it more attractive to bees, face the front to the south to give it a southern exposure. Just make sure that any hole opening faces out to allow the bee to enter.
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Once in place, female bees lay their eggs in the holes and cover them with mud, plant material, or other substances. When spring arrives, adult bees emerge. It is recommended at this time that you replace the old wood with wood that has freshly drilled holes.
