OER_wildbees_nestingaid_presentation.pdf

This presentation (in english, with some words in german) gives an overview on bee biodiversity with a focus on wild bees. It presents challenges in species conservation and offers an overview on nesting aids (i.e. insect hotels) and how to properly plan/build one.

1. All about
themBees
A shortpresentationon wild-beediversity, ecologyand
howtousenestingaids(insecthotels) appropriately
Language: english(withsomeexpressionsin german)
Author: Ilja Svetnik (2024)
thisworkislicensedundera Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Mal e sweat bee (Hal i ctustetrazoni anel lusStrand, 1909) extending i ts mouthparts; Gi deon Pi santy; CC BY Creati ve
CommonsAttri bution 3.0 Unported; https://commons.wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /Fil e:Halictus_tetrazonianellus_male_2.j pg; cropped

2. AUSTRIA: ~ 55.000 Species
> 40.000 speciesofInsects
~ 350 speciesofBirds
~ 90 speciesofFish
~ 80 speciesofMammals
> 10.000 speciesof
Hymenoptera
~ 700 speciesof Bees
Insects (Hexapods)
74%
other Invertebrates
(Snails & Slugs)
16%
other Arthropods
(Spiders, Scorpions,
Centipedes)
9%
Vertebrates (Fish,
Reptiles, Birds,
Mammals)
1%
NATIVE ANIMALS
Lepi doptera Di ptera Hymenoptera
Dermaptera Orthoptera Odonata
Auchenorrhyncha Aphi doi dea Neuroptera
Mecoptera Col eoptera Hemi ptera
Al l photos are l i censed wi thout restri cti ons under CC0

3. HYMENOPRTERA
Hexapodswith2 pairsoftranslucentwings
Lifecycle: Egg –Larva –
Pupa –(Imago) –Adult
Reproduction &
lifestyle vastly
different!

4. Cra d l e y, M a l v e rn, W o rc s. SO7 2 9 4 7 0 ; Ga i l Ha m p s h i re ; CC BY Cre a t i v e
Co m m o n sAt t ri b u t i o n 2 . 0 Ge n e ri cl ic e n s e; h t t ps : / / co m m on s . wi k i me d i a . o rg/
wi k i / F i l e : Ch ry s u ra _ ra d i a n s . _ Cu c k o o _ (o r_J e we l )_ W a s p _ (35 7 9 0 6 3 2 44 1 ). j p g;
A wi n g l e s sf e m a l ep a ra s i t i cwa s p; F a mi l y Eu p e lm i d a e. Gi a n t s Ca s t le Ga me
Re s e rv e , Kwa Z u l u-Na t a l Dra k e n s b e rg, So u t h Af ri c a; Al a n d ma n s o n; CC BY
Cre a t i v e Co m m o n sAt t ri b u t i o n 4 . 0 In t e rn a t io n a ll ic e n s e;
h t t p s : / / c o m m o n s . wi k i me d i a . org / wi k i / F i l e :Eu p e l m i d ae _ 2 0 2 0 _ 01 _ 0 1 _ 1 5 _2 6_1
2_7925_G.jpg; c ro p p e d
Gr a b w e s p e L e s tic ac ly pe a ta, Mä n n c he n , a m 2 . J u n i
2 0 1 8 in d e r Sc h w e tz in g e r H ar d t; Slimg u y; C C BY
C r e a tiv e C o mmo n sAttr ib u tio n 4 .0 In te r n a tio n a l
lic e n s e; c r o p p e d

5. Bees
Pollinatorswhoexclusivelyconsume
pollen& nectar
Mason Bees(Mauerbienen)
Mining Bees(Sandbienen)
Carpenter Bees(Holzbienen)
MaskedBees(Maskenbienen)
Digger Bees(Pelzbienen)
LeafcutterBees(Scherenbienen)
Bumblebees(Hummeln)
Honeybees(Honigbienen)
Maori Mas k edBee (Hyl aeusrel egatus); Steve Kerr, CC BY Creativ e CommonsAttri buti on 4.0 Internati onal
l i c ens e; https://commons.wiki media.org/wiki /Fil e:Hyl aeus _rel egatus_1225352.jpg
Two s ol i tary bees (Os mi a cornuta) c opulating, PKT56; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri bution 3.0 Unported
l i c ens e; https://commons.wiki media.org/wiki /Fil e:Os mia_c ornuta_copul ati on.j pg

6. The
Honeybee
Oneof onlytwodomesticatedinsectsin theworld
9 species globally (7 SE-Asian, 1 N-African, 1 global)
Apismellifera (Western Honeybee)
Highly social –colonies of 70.000 individuals and more
Only the queen reproduces, other females are sterile
Life expectancy: ~ 3 months (queen up to 6 years,
males < 2 months) →Colony spends winter together.
Larvae feed on honey
Feed on basically every plant (generalists)

7. The
Wild Bees
Many specialists–thereforeoftenhighlyvulnerable
Live mostly solitary →Bumblebees in small colonies of
50 –500 individuals (queen reproduces, makes honey)
Extremely efficient pollinators, many cuckoo species!
Life expectancy (3-5 weeks as an adult, ~ 1 year)
Bumblebee queen up to 4 years
Larvae & pupa spend winter in brood-cells, adults in
the ground or in wood. Bumblebees die in autumn,
only the fertile queen survives.

8. Brood
sites
Feeding
grounds
Building
materials
HABITAT
Whatdo
Beesneed?

9. Wild bees are specialist. Some species only feed on
1-5 different plants!
1. Feedinggrounds
Diverse meadows disappear with a rapid pace
and are not easily restored!

10. Plant material, resins, sand grains and earth
are required, to close the brood cells.
2. Building materials
Dead plants, sandbanks & natural clay walls
disappear with spreading urbanization and land use!
Seal ed wi th a pi ece of l eaf, Gail Hampshi re; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 2.0 Genericl i cense;
https://commons.wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /Fil e:Mason_Bee_(_possi bl y_a_Megachi le_)_(34879174094).j pg; cropped
Single shot of the female busy at a tube of a Bee Hotel in my garden near Christchurch
Park; Martin Cooper; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Genericlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :Fem ale _Bl ue _Ma so n_ B ee _-
_Osmia_(Chalcosmia)_ca erul esce ns _(2 38 78 6 49 97 1).jp g; cropped
Male red mason bee (Osmia bicornis), Sandy, Bedfordshire; Orangeaurochs,
CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Genericlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :Mal e_re d _mas on _ be e_( Osmia _bic or
nis),_Sandy,_B ed for dshire _(1 6 94 95 50 8 20).j pg; cropped
Mas on Bee -Os mi as peci es, MeadowwoodFarm SRMA, Mason Nec k, Vi rginia;
J udy Gal l agher; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttribution 2.0 Generi cl icense;
https ://c ommons.wik imedi a.org/wik i/Fi le:Mason_Bee_-_Os mia_spec ies,
_Meadowwood_Farm_SRMA,_Mason_Neck,_Vi rgini a.j pg; cropped

11. Osmiabicornis
(Redmasonbee) Mason Bee Femal es Laying and Storing Eggs; T i m Sheerman-Chase; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 2.0 Generic
l i cense; https://commons.wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /File:Mason_Bee_Females_Laying_and_Stori ng_Eggs.j pg; cropped
Eggs and pollenstoredwithina stalk. Oneegg after
anotherand compartmented. Hatchedbeesdigout
Opened nest of a red mason bee (Osmi a rufa); tpj uni er; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri bution 2.0 Generi cl icense;
https://commons.wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /Fil e:Osmia_rufa_nest.jpg, cropped
Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) nest cells in a bee hotel, Sandy, Bedfordshire;
Orangeaurochs; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Genericlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :Re d_m as on _b e e_(O smia_ bic ornis)_ ne
st_cells_in_a_b ee _h ot el, _S an dy, _ Be df ords hire_( 11 3 70 31 77 9 3).jp g; cropped

12. Can bevery
specific!
The poppymasonbeeuses
exclusivelypoppyleafsto
builditsbroodcells!
Hoplitispapaveris
(Poppy mason bee)

13. Structures to lay eggs, form brood cells and
spend the winter in while protected from
freezing temperatures and predation.
3. Broodsites
-Dead wood & plants
-Bare and loose ground
-Sand and clay walls
-Stone piles and murals
-Holey walls
Most of these structures are now deemed
“undesired” and “ugly” in modern, “tended”
urban areas.
Oncea proudtree; Stiller Beobachter; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0
Genericlicense; https://commons.wikime dia. org/ wiki/File: On ce _a _pr ou d _tre e_-
_Flickr_-_Stiller_Beob ach ter.j pg
Weiße.HohleNußloch, Lösswand; Michael Linnenbach; CC BY Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 Internationallicense; https://commons.wikim edi a. org/wiki /File:W ei%
C3%9Fe.Hohle,_ L%C 3% B 6sswa n d.jp g; cropped
Trockenmauwer; Granpar; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0
Unportedlicense; https://commons.wikime dia. org/ wiki/File:Tr ock enm au er
_Schmittsh%C3%B 6h e.j pg; cropped
Old house; Max Faudoroff; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0
Unportedlicense; https://commons.wikime dia. org/ wiki/File: Old _h o use _-
_panoramio_(13).jp g; cropped

14. Take a look
around!
Andrenasp.
(Mason bee)
Bombus terrestris
(large ground bumblebee)
Mi ni ng Bee -Andrenaspecies, MeadowoodSRMA, Mason Nec k, Vi rginia; Judy Gall agher; CC BY Creati ve
CommonsAttribution 2.0 Generi cl icense; https://commons.wik imedi a.org/wik i/Fi le:Mi ni ng_Bee_-
_Andrena_s peci es ,_Meadowood_SRMA,_Mason_Neck ,_Virgi ni a,_March_11,_2022_(52234627983).j pg; cropped
SZ037853 StudlandBay , Dors et. U.K; Gail Hamps hire; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 2.0 Generi cli cense;
https ://c ommons.wik imedi a.org/wik i/Fi le:Andrena_argentata._Small _Sandpit_Mining_Bee_(37165912235).jpg; cropped
Cradl ey. Mal vern, WorcsSO7347; Gail Hamps hi re; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 2.0 Generi cli cense;
https ://c ommons.wik imedi a.org/wik i/Fi le:Bombus_terrestri s_Queen_(33708092521).jpg; c ropped
Tawnymi ni ngBee Nest; Gale Hampshire; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri bution 2.0 Generi cl icense;
https ://c ommons.wik imedi a.org/wik i/Fi le:Tawny _mini ng_Bee_Nest_-_Fl ick r_-_gai lhampshi re.jpg; c ropped

15. Lucanus cervus
(Stag beetle)
Xylocopaviolacea
(Blue carpenter bee)
Crossocerussp.
(square-headed wasp)
Crysisbicolor
(Emerald wasp)
Many Structures=
BiodiversityHotspots!
Las Descargues, France -30/06/16; CC BY Creative
CommonsAttribution 2.0 Genericlicense; https://commons
.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luc a nus _c ervus _(3 32 49 2 36 55 6).jp g
Cradl ey, Mal vern, Worcs. SO729470; Gai l Hampshire; CC BY Creative
CommonsAttribution 2.0 Generi cl icense; https://commons.wik imedi a.org/
wi k i /Fi l e:Chry sura_radi ans ._Cuck oo_(or_Jewel)_Wasp_(35790632441).j pg;
Cradley, MalvernWorcs. SO7347; Gail Hampshire; CC BY
Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Genericlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :Cra broni d ae, _Cros so
cerus_species._-_Flickr_-_g ailh amps hire.j p g; cropped
T ree trunk i n a vacant l ot east of the bi g church. I l i ke the contrast wi th the tree that's sti l l al i ve behind i t;
Accreti on Di sk; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 2.0 Genericl i cense; cropped

16. Lessstructure-lesseverything
BIG vssmallscale

17. The importanceofclassic, extensive agriculture: Itkeepsand promotesstrucutre, therebydiversity!
North Common Meadow, PetershamMassachusetts; John Phelan; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0 Unportedlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :Nort h_ Commo n _Me ad ow, _P et ersh am_M A.j pg; cropped
20180520_0132; Fake Shemp; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri bution 2.0 Generi cl icense;
https://commons.wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /Fil e:Meadow_(28514673288).jpg

18. Strucutreis
diversity!
Wheredo wegofromhere?
Whatdo peopledo, wholive
here, and claimthattheycare
fortheenvironment?
Claude Monet house and garden in Giverny; Michael Osmenda; CC BY Creative Commons
Attribution 2.0 Genericlicense; https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :Cla ud e _Mo net _
house_and_ g arde n _in _Giv erny_(8 74 14 9 60 41).j pg; cropped
BerringtonHall; PJ Marriott; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0 Unportedlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :B erring to n_H all_-_p an orami o_-_ PJM arriott.j p g; cropped

19. Nesting
aids
(InsectHotels)
Bringingstructuretoa place
whereithasbeenlost…
Not an essential element!
Artern, Natur-und Kräutergarten, Insektenhotel ; Dguendel; CC BY Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 3.0 Unportedl icense;
https://commons.wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /Fil e:Artern,_Natur-_und_Kr%C3%A4utergarten,_Insektenhotel-1.j pg; cropped

20. Nestingaids
thegood thebad & theugly
Bug Hotel , St Margaret's church; T im Sheerman-Chase; CC BY
Creati ve CommonsAttri buti on 2.0 Generi cl icense; https://commons.
wi ki medi a.org/wi ki /Fil e:Bug_Hotel,_St_Margarets.j pg; cropped

21. Whatmakesa goodnestingaid(forbees)?
(A) protectionfromrain & predators(B) inclusionof myelinatedstalks(C1 & C2) clean stalksand drill
holesof varioussizes(D) large piecesof wood, drilledfromtheside(E) inclusionof sand& clay
Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union / Julien Nizet; Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024
from Belgium; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Genericlicense; https://commons.wikim edi a. org/wiki/Fil e:-
_EU2024BE_ 2 40 40 8_ In formal _me eti ng _o f_ Agric ult ure_Mi nist ers_ Ge nk _JNZT_ 02 6 7_( 53 64 09 5 58 91).j pg; cropped

22. Whatmakesa nestingaiduseless?
(A) Bricks withgiantholes/spaces(B) thin, big(unclean) straws(C1 & C2) completelyuselessfiller
(D) wooddrilledfromthewrongside(E) depthof<15cm (F) inclusionofpineconesand straw
Ausgefranste Enden der Schilfröhrchen, der Tot für jeden Insektenflügen ; Raboe001; CC BY
Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0 Unportedlicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :B aum arkt _sc hlec ht e_Nis thilf e_ by-R aB oe _0 1-0 1.j pg

23. AWFUL Nestingaids
Poor nestingaidscanbothattractand promote parasitesand neozoicspecieslike asianladybugs(Harmoniaaxyridis).
Budka dla owadów przy ul. Olimpijskiej w Łodzi; Mafo; CC BY Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 Internationallicense; https://commons.wikim edi a. org/wiki /File:
Budka_dla_ow a d%C 3% B3w _ przy_ ul. _Olimpijski ej_w _%C 5% 8 1o dzi.j pg; cropped
Das Insektenhotelin Dollbergenin der Alten Dorfstraße, Ecke An der Wasserstraße;
Uli Dolbarge; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 Internationallicense;
https://commons.wikime dia .or g/wiki/File :I nsek te n hot el_D ollb erg en .J PG; cropped
Hôtel à insectes, à Belfort; Thomas Bresson; CC BY Creative CommonsAttribution
4.0 Internationallicense; https://commons.wikime dia .org /wiki/File :2 01 7-07-1 2_ 15-
38-35_hotel-a-ins ect es.j pg

24. GOOD Nestingaids

25. Other viable options

26. General rules
•Protection from wind, rain & predators (birds, ants)
•Straws and stalks of different sizes (>15cm long)
•Wood & bricks with holes of different sizes (>5 cm deep)
Ideal:
•Vertical myelinated stalks
•Inclusion of sand and/or clay
•Flower strips & open ground nearby
•Dead wood nearby

27. Supplementarymaterial
Find ourinstruction/componetensposterfor
buildinga proper nesting-aidforwild bees!
(availablein German and English!)
https://zenodo.org/records/12543703
You can also visit https://wibie.at/
or contact the author [email protected]
for further information or requests!