Constructing Bee Hives: Suggestions and Insights on Providing a Water Source for Wild Bees in Your Garden
Hankerin' for a Honeybee Haven? Got a hankerin' to care for our buzzin' buddies and add some hum to your gardens? You betcha! With Insect Decline on the rise, it's high time to roll up our sleeves and help the humming and humming live on.
Butterflies and more than just a few endangered wild bees need water, along with some top-notch nestin' sites and tasty native plants, to stay hydrated and cool down. However, good ol' H20 ain't always easy to find, especially in those scorchin' summer months. But fret not! A simple DIY project is just the ticket for whippin' up your own bee watering station.
Want the lowdown on why water sources matter to our buzzin' buddies? Read on, partner!
Here's a quick rundown:
- Why Water Matters
- Gettin' the Goods
- DIY Time
- Wrap It Up
Why Water Matters: Why do bees need water?
Broadly speakin', all bees rely on H20 for their metabolism. Honeybees, though, use it primarily to cool their hives and produce food and royal jelly for their larvae. On the other hand, wild bees mainly use water for buildin' their nests.
Most bees cover their H20 needs through the nectar they consume. However, Climate Change and ever-increasin' water scarcity are alterin' the nectar sources of the plant world. water-producing sources like honeydew are gettin' harder to come by.
During dry periods, bees need alternative water sources, like a homemade bee watering station. And hey, you might just be interested in helpin' out these fascinating creatures 'cause many wild bee species are endangered and could use our help. Not only are these busy workers the pollinators of countless plants, but their decline poses a threat to entire ecosystems and our food security.
Gettin' the Goods: What do I need?
Creatin' a bee waterin' station that attracts insects should be as natural as waterin' a garden, ya ask? Simple, partner! A few natural materials that provide a safe place for insects to access water and find a home are all it takes. Time to get creative!
Here's what I used to build my bee waterin' stations:
- Flower pot saucer (min. Ø 20 cm; available here in terracotta; and here in a more stylish ceramic version)
- Wooden sticks or small twigs
- Small stones
- Moss
- Water 😉
Remember, this station should resemble a miniature natural pond, and the more natural, the better!
DIY Time: How can I build it?
Ready to get to buildin' and offer water to the tiny little helpers? Let's git-r-done! A few important notes first:
Choosin' the right location for the bee waterin' station is crucial. A warm and sunny spot, but still protected from wind and rain, is the perfect spot. Ideally, place the station as near as possible to a wildflower meadow or a wild corner in the garden, so the bees can find it easily and have short distances to travel.
Follow these steps to build an invitatin' bee waterin' station:
Choose a dish: Grab a flat terracotta flower pot saucer. It'll serve as the water basin for your bee drinker. You can drop it into almost any shallow and non-porous container.
Place twigs and stones: Fill the tray with small stones and twigs. This material will later serve as a landin' pad for bees, butterflies, and other insects.
Add moss: Next, add some moss to provide additional support for the insects. They often suck water droplets directly from it.
Pour water: Pour the water into the saucer, but don't let it flood - the landin' pad should remain dry.
Check regularly: Make sure the water is always filled and kept clean to provide a constant water source for the bees.
And there you have it! A simple step-by-step guide to build a bee watering station that'll have our little helpers buzzin' with delight.
Tip: A bee-friendly garden also includes an assortment of native plants, so feel free to check out my lists of bee-friendly wild roses and insect-friendly small trees.
Build a bee drinker, made easy!
Buildin' a bee drinker doesn't break the bank or require an engineering degree, and it's a fantastic way to help the little garden dwellers. All it needs are a few natural materials, the right location, and your helping hand – and voilà! The water source for wild bees and other insects is ready to roll.
What's more, this small and simple DIY project also serves an educational purpose. Why not create it with your kids and teach them all about the importance of local biodiversity?
"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No bees, no pollination, no plants, no animals, no man."
So, hope this guides you through building your own bee drinker. Send me your questions, suggestions, or further ideas for more meaningful water sources to support the insect world.
Stay nature-loving and environmentally conscious,
PS: If you want to do more for bees and other insects, then I suggest learnin' how to build a sandarium or create a diverse stone pile. Good luck!
- Honeybees require water not only for their metabolism, but also to cool their hives and produce food for their larvae, while wild bees mainly use it for nest building.
- To build a bee-friendly watering station, you'll need a flower pot saucer, wooden sticks or small twigs, small stones, moss, and water.
- To attract insects to your DIY bee watering station, create a natural pond-like environment with the materials, and consider placing it near a wildflower meadow or wild corner in your garden.
