When the temperatures rise, not only people look for a cool down. Bumblebees, bees and co. also depend on the cool water. The animals are finding it less and less naturally due to shrinking habitats and the negative effects of agriculture. The little beneficial insects need the water to quench their thirst, but also to build nests. You can support the animals in a meaningful way by setting up an insect waterer. Here you can find out what you need to pay attention to and how to build an insect waterer yourself.
Finding a suitable water source is often difficult for insects. Their habitat is dwindling as people spread and agriculture reduces the quality of those who remain. If insects discover the cool water, they need a suitable landing place in order to be able to drink. The risk of drowning should not be underestimated, as this can prevent the small animals from drinking water.
Insect drinkers are therefore adapted to the beneficial insects and enable safe drinking with suitable landing places. The water must not be deep and elevations are needed on which the animals can land. You have the choice between practical insect waterers that have been specially designed for your visitors and those that you can build yourself. The former already have safe landing pads and only need to be filled with water. The latter, however, only require a few materials and can be built quickly.
Place the insect waterer in a sunny, warm place with as little wind as possible. Proximity to plants that are friendly to bees and bumblebees is ideal. You should change the water at regular intervals to prevent the development of pathogens.
You only need a few things for the homemade insect drinker. The basis is a flat bowl, which can be crockery or a small bird bath. The insects need landing pads to protect themselves from drowning in the cool water. It is best to fill the shallow bowl with small stones, wood or plant materials such as moss, on which the insects can safely land.
If there are small landing spots in the form of stones, wood or plants in the insect waterer, fill them up with fresh water. Make sure that the stones protrude halfway out of the water. You can spread some moss between the stones and at the edge of the trough so that the insects have enough space to create enough landing places.
What: Nabu, Geo
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