INSECT HOTEL BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS
Side view
Front view
To construct a basic insect hotel, you need:
• one squared timber (sawed off on top at an angle for
the roof slope)
• a wood board in the width of the squared timber,
about 1/3 longer than the depth of the squared timber
(overhang)
• about 6 wood nails
• hammer
• drill
• poss. materials for hanging
Instructions:
Squared timber
Drill holes of 2–10 mm in diameter diagonally upward at
an angle of about 10° into the front side of the squared
timber. Nail the wood board with overhang onto the
squared timber as a roof.
Angled drilled holes, 2–10 mm in diameter
Set-up:
It is important that the wood be dry and not has
been treated with chemical substances such
as wood protectants.
• select the location for the insect hotel in such a way
that the sun can supply sufficient warmth
• protect from inclement weather
• to be placed approx. 60–70 cm away from the ground
• place nearby as many plants rich in pollen and nectar
as possible to serve as food for insects
• can be hanged up alternatively
INSECT HOTEL BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS
Tools and materials needed
• Carpet knife
• Clay
• Cordless
screwdriver
• (Standing) drill
• File
• Hammer
• Pruning shears
• Roofing paper
• Roofing paper
nails, approx. 30
pieces (2.8 x 16)
• Staple gun
• Vise
• Wire cutters
• Wood drill
• Wood screws,
approx. 24
pieces (4 x 45
or 4 x 50)
• Yardstick
Wood
Purpose
Length x width x strength
Spruce Wood
Floor (1 x)
40 cm x 12.5 cm x approx. 2 cm
Spruce Wood
Side wall (2 x)
28 cm x 11 cm x approx. 2 cm
Spruce Wood
Shelf (2 x)
36 cm x 11 cm x approx. 2 cm
Spruce Wood
Dividing wall (2 x)
12 cm x 11 cm x approx. 2 cm
Spruce Wood
Roof left side (1 x)
52 cm x 12 cm x approx. 2 cm
Spruce Wood
Roof right side (angled on top) (1 x)
49.5 cm x 12 cm x approx. 2 cm
Spruce Wood
Roof shelf (angled) (1 x)
24 cm x 11 cm x approx. 2 cm
Pieces of bark or
bark mulch,
wire mesh
Empty snail shells,
wire mesh
Hard wood
Bricks with holes
Pine cone
(as small as
possible)
Bamboo
cane
Filling material see sketch
wire mesh
for front and
back side
Steps
Materials
Instructions
Ground floor
• Cordless screwdriver
• 4 wood screws
• 1 x floor
• 2 x side wall
Set up the side wall with the short side upright. Lay the floor on the short side of the
side wall at a 90-degree angle and attach with two screws. Screw the second side
wall onto the floor as well.
Dividing walls
• 8 wood screws
• 2 x shelf
• 2 x dividing wall
• Cordless screwdriver
Place the dividing wall on the shelf (in the middle, 90-degree angle) and attach with
two screws. Repeat this process with the second dividing wall and the second shelf.
Now set the first dividing wall in the middle of the ground floor (like an upside-down
T) and attach with 2 screws per side. Place the second dividing wall on top and
attach as well.
Top floor
• 12 wood screws, cordless screwdriver
• Roof right side (angled)
• Roof left side
• Roof shelf
• File
Angle the right roof part with a file. Attach the angled roof shelf onto the dividing wall
with 2 screws. Screw roof (right) with the angled side together with roof (left) using
2 screws. Attach the whole roof onto the shelf using 2 screws per side.
Roof
• 1 x roofing paper, carpet knife
• Roofing paper nails (2.8 x 16)
• Hammer
Cut the roofing paper to size with the carpet knife carefully and lay on the roof.
Attach using several nails.
Fill lower level
• Small pine cones
• 2 x wire mesh (16 cm x 40 cm)
• Wire cutters
• Staple gun
Cut the wire mesh to size with wire cutters and lay it in place. Attach on one side
using a staple gun. Fill with the small pine cones. Now staple the wire mesh in place
on the other side.
Bamboo cane
room
•B
amboo cane (length approx. 11 cm)
•P
runing shears for shortening
horten bamboo canes to a length of about 11 cm. Fill the room in such a way that
S
the bamboo canes cannot fall out.
Brickroom
• Bricks with holes
• Hammer
• Clay
Fit the brick to the room with a hammer and set in place. Fill the holes with a mixture
of clay and water and pierce through the filling with e. g. a knitting needle when still
soft. Hereby create several tunnels with a diameter of 3 to 6 millimeters. When all
tunnels are done close the holes of the backside with the clay mixture again. Rework
the remaining corridors.
Snail shell room
•S
nail shells
(e. g. from the central market)
• 2 x wire mesh
• Wire cutters
• Staple gun
Cut the wire mesh to size with wire cutters and lay it in place. Attach on one side
using a staple gun. Fill with the snail shells. The openings should face outward.
Now staple the wire mesh in place on the other side.
Hard wood
room
• Hard wood
• Drill
• Wood drill (diameter 3–6 mm,
length at least 10 cm)
• Vise
Clamp the hard wood (length 11 cm) with a vise. Drill holes of 3–6 mm in diameter
diagonally upward at an angle of about 10°. Now insert the hard wood into the room.
It should not slide out.
Bark room
• Pieces of bark / bark mulch
• 2 x wire mesh
• Wire cutters
• Staple gun
• Pruning shears
Cut the wire mesh to size with wire cutters and lay it in place. Attach on one side
using a staple gun. Cut the bark to size with pruning shears and fill the room. Now
staple the wire mesh in place on the other side.
Set-up
•w
ind-protected and sunny
• to be placed approx. 60–70 cm away from the ground onto a surface or a stub
of a tree
•a
s many plants rich in pollen and nectar as possible nearby to serve as food