Director
Phone:
+49 711 685 66577
Good for the Indoor Climate and Biodiversity
Insects are useful and perform a variety of functions that also benefit us humans. Among other things, they support plant pollination, contribute to improving soil quality, and serve as a food source for other living creatures. In cities, however, their habitats are severely restricted by buildings and sealed surfaces. Therefore, systems that create balance and provide new habitats for insects are particularly important.
Our research tests how additional habitats for insects can be created in building facades while also increasing energy efficiency. The habitat systems are therefore good for us humans on the one hand, and on the other hand, they contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in the city by providing nesting aids for insects.
Our joint contribution to promoting habitats for insects and to environmentally conscious and safe energy saving: a win-win situation for everyone.
Find out below how the nesting aids work and how you as a private individual can contribute to their success.
Nesting aids made of bamboo and reeds
Image: IABP, University of Stuttgart
Are UrbanInsects Nesting Aids a Type of “Insect Hotel”?
Everyone knows what an insect hotel is. But how does it differ from a nesting aid? And why do we prefer to say nesting aid rather than insect hotel?
First of all, there is no difference in terms of structure, except that our nesting aids meet ecological requirements, which commercially available “hotels” do not always do. However, both terms refer to essentially the same product. However, we prefer the term nesting aid, as wild bees and other so-called stinging insects in particular use the cavities of the holes in the wood and the bamboo or reed tubes as nesting sites. This is where wild bees mainly lay their eggs, from which the next generation develops over several months. Their offspring therefore settle in the cavities for a longer period of time to grow up. Only when the insects have hatched do they leave the tubes and passages and thus also the nesting aid.
The cavities are therefore used for nesting and not for sleeping, as would be usual in a hotel.
Please feel free to come to our guided tours and viewings of the mock-ups for further information and a personal consultation. If you are interested in making an appointment, please contact us by email at: urbi@iabp.uni-stuttgart.de
Find out how the nesting aids work and how you as a private individual can contribute to their success below.
Kids
Even for very young children, visiting wild bees and seeing nesting aids can be an exciting and rewarding experience.
Other helpful learning materials for this age group include:
https://umweltakademie.baden-wuerttemberg.de/materialien
or the BeeLife app. It comprises eight levels that cover the topic of wild bees for grades 4 to 6. The app also includes an accompanying booklet for teachers that shows examples of how the app can be integrated into school lessons. See also https://www.ife.uni-stuttgart.de/institut/aktuelles/news/BeeLife-in-den-App-Stores/
Tips and Tricks on how You can Contribute to Preserving Biodiversity
You can find instructions on how to build your own nesting aid for wild bees in a way that is appropriate for the animals in “Construction and progress” and at www.wildbienen.info or www.wildbienenzentrum.de.
In addition to habitat, insects also need food. Due to factors such as urban sealing, the food supply in cities is very limited in some areas. You can improve this by creating additional native greenery wherever possible (balcony, garden, carport, facade, etc.). The more diverse the plant species and the richer the structure, for example by using a mixture of native trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, and open ground, the better.
Do not use soil rich in humus or peat in your flower boxes. It is better to mix loamy sand with a little compost.
It is also extremely beneficial to allow wild plants, known as spontaneous vegetation, to thrive. These plants are often a good source of pollen and nectar for native insects.
You can find more practical examples and information on suitable plant species here, for example: Naturgarten – Seite des Naturgarten e.V. and https://www.wildbienen.info/artenschutz/nahrungsangebot_grundlagen.php.
Vegetable cultivation on a sealed backyard area. Spontaneous vegetation between the plant pots (such as ground elder) was permitted.
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Can you find both bees on the spontaneous vegetation ground elder?
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Example of a nature-oriented parking lot space design.
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Example of a nature-oriented garden.
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Butterfly on ivy on building facade.
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Spontaneous vegetation on a curb.
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Unsuitable diameter of bamboo nesting tunnels in a nesting aid, which are also too short.
Image: (c) IABP, University of Stuttgart
Frayed nesting tunnel entrances pose a risk of injury to wild bees (even in reeds). It is better not to drill into the hardwood from the front and to ensure that the nesting tunnels are sufficiently deep (at least 10 cm).
Tailored Information is available on the following Pages:
Project Management
Contact Persons at IABP
Elternzeit
Phone:
+49 711 685 65629
ZIRIUS Contact Persons
Project Duration
July 2023 – November 2026
Total Funding Volume
975,752 Euro
Project Funding
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV),
German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN),
German Federal Biological Diversity Program
State
Baden-Württemberg
Funding Information
The UrbanInsects project is funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation as part of the Federal Biological Diversity Program with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
This website reflects the views and opinions of the recipient of funding from the Federal Biological Diversity Program and does not necessarily reflect the views of the funding provider.
