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Finally, an affordable bee hotel in Paris (24 Photos)

July 30, 2012 | In: Animals, Interesting, Travel

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: You may be wondering what bees need a hotel for, when they make their own hives. The truth is that many species of bees are solitary – the do not live in hives but instead construct their own nest. Bee hotels are necessary for a number of different reasons. First off, bee populations have been on a decline in recent years. Part of the problem is that their natural habitats have been cleared to make way for intensive agriculture. Pesticides have also been instrumental in their decline. It is often difficult to encourage solitary bees in urban areas because there are so few suitable nesting places for them. So, many people chose to give nature a helping hand by building their own bee hotels.

A distinct advantage for the humans who build these hotels is that the more insects they attract the greater likelihood that insect pollination of fruit and vegetables will take place on their patch. You have probably guessed how most of these hotels have been made. Wooden logs of various proportions are sawn and then holes drilled in to them a few centimeters apart. It is important that the holes are tilted – they cannot be completely straight as otherwise rain will get in.

DPzzzzle

Better than that dumb Seinfeld movie.
Kahless

"You have probably guessed how most of these hotels have been made…"

I HIGHLY doubt anyone guessed that before seeing the picture, and even then…
Bluntaholic

Hmm maybe if I do this they will stop drilling nickle size holes in all my deck railings. Some of my rails look like swiss cheese on the bottom cuz of these lil bee's

.Krookz

Thats what they are trying to stop

tom turbo

thanks chive, thats cool

Dirty_Dingus

Interesting. Also….AHHHH BEES!!!

http://www.facebook.com/Beltranudo Luis Beltranudo

I know where I'm gonna bee going on my next vacation
Happy

Wish I could ride a bee. Like in Honey I Shrunk the Kids. When they rode the ant. Classic.
The Oldar

Very cool.
freddy boy

#6 #24 Sleep well, amigos.
Darrell

#24

"Hmm. Now look who's mayor. First order of business; free honey for everyone! Yay, Mayor Bee, Mayor Bee, Mayor Bee–OW! Oh, done stung myself. Bye world…"
unstablegirl

#24
French bees. Just as lovable as North American bees, but more snotty.
Shade

Hate these fuckers… really. Weird but still amazing
http://lifeexperiencemash-up.blogspot.com/ bcarson810

Great environmental idea. But I'd be terrified to go anywhere near one.

GPBR

Why Mason bees don't sting.

http://www.facebook.com/bill.wald Bill Wald

He has an OCD that requires him to swing at bee hives with a stick.

Damian

I thought it was colony collapse syndrome that was killing bees. We've been using insecticides for decades and harsher chemicals in years past so I think this correlation is shit.
Hendu0705

Yeah but agricultural science is learning new more effective ways to make pesticides. No bees, no humans. It's that simple. I hate the idea of getting stung as much as the next person, but we need bees. So even if you aren't going to make a "bee hotel" at least stop killing them. And if you arent going to stop killing them, then I think I speak for all people who like living when I say fuck all the way off.
ckron247

Great for the environment, but your neighbors will hate you!
acdc

looks like those would catch fire "real nice like"……

Underbaker

#24 He heard that and you are now on his list.

http://www.facebook.com/trish.sidelko Trish Sidelko

#12 Yeah, because making a bee hotel above your window sounds like a great idea.
Betsy

Can anyone share a source of instructions to make this kind of bee hotel? The pictures are great butI could use more specifications. Thanks.

GPBR

Quite literally, find object, drill hole. Make it about 5/16th-3/8" and go at least 3 – 6 inches deep, just don't go through the back.

softailrider

These constructs are for mason bees, not honeybees. Mason bees do aid in pollination as do honeybees. You just don't get the benefits of the honey production. Colony collapse has killed about 50% of the honeybees in the US.
MohawkJon

I am pro bee.
I just don't know how the other people in my apartment complex feel.

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