Buzzing gardens
Bees and other useful animals in the garden
Why are pollinators important? Where do they live? What do they eat?
Here, we gather facts about bees and other pollinators, about the plants you can grow to make our important pollinating insects thrive, about habitats you can create, etc.
Insect hotels – the nursery of the garden
The Botanical Garden's insect hotel is home to many valuable and fascinating animals in the garden.
Pollinators
Many plants depend on bees and other insects for pollination, so they can set seed. Bumble bees, solitary bees and other hymenopterans require suitable holes in which their larvae can develop. The female layers the hole with pollen for food, eggs and partition walls. Finally the entrance is plugged, to keep out uninvited guests.
Ladybirds and earwigs eat aphids
With a variety of different materials, the insect hotel becomes wintering and nesting places for many different small insects. Old pine cones have many nooks and crannies for ladybirds. Both ad larvae and as adults they eat large amounts of aphids. Earwigs are also very useful as pest control. When darkness falls, they emerge to feast on plant lice, mites and aphids.
By making it easier for the small insects, the biodiversity increases and we get more abundant harvests and a more vibrant garden.
