Have you just installed your insect hotel after reading our article on 5 good reasons to have one? Excellent initiative! But be careful: simply placing the box randomly in the garden is not always enough. If your hotel remains empty, it is often a question of exposure.
Here are the 4 golden rules for turning your hotel into a 5-star palace, according to recommendations from experts such as the LPO (League for the Protection of Birds).
1. Orientation: Face south or south-east! This is the most important rule. Insects (solitary bees, bumblebees) are cold-blooded animals. They need the warmth of the morning sun to warm up their muscles and fly away.
Do: Orient the front of the hotel to face south or south-east.
Avoid: North (too cold) or west (exposed to rain). The hotel must stay dry!
2. Height: Not too high, not too low Do not place the hotel on the ground (except for hedgehog shelters), as moisture will cause the wood to rot.
Ideal: Fix it between 30 cm and 1.50 metres above the ground.
Why? This protects it from ground moisture and makes it easier for pollinators to access.
3. Stability: A shelter that doesn’t sway If your hotel sways in the wind (suspended from a thin branch), insects will not enter it. They need a stable support to lay their eggs safely.
Tip: Screw it securely to a wall, post, or sturdy tree trunk.
4. Environment: The ‘restaurant’ must be nearby. Set up your hotel less than 10 metres from its food sources: wild flowers, fruit trees or vegetable gardens.
Conclusion The right place? A sunny, stable spot with flowers. Be patient: it can sometimes take a few weeks for the first scouts to find the location.