The insect hotels They are a fun and educational way to bring children closer to the fascinating world of insects and keep them in contact with nature. But also, to promote biodiversity in our gardens and terraces. In this article, we'll explore what an insect hotel is, what types of insects it can house, and why it's an enriching activity for little ones. We will also encourage you to build one with them with a simple step by step.
What is an insect hotel?
An insect hotel is a structure designed to provide shelter and habitat to different species of insects beneficial to the ecosystem. They are generally composed of different compartments filled with natural materials such as branches, leaves, reeds, and trunks where insects can nest, take shelter, and reproduce.
What insects can it harbor?
Some of the insects that can find shelter in an insect hotel are: butterflies, ladybugs, beetles, spiders, wasps, crickets, solitary beess... Many of them are important for the natural control of pests in gardens and crops.
Benefits for children
Why is it good for children to have an insect hotel on the balcony to observe? How does it benefit them? When creating and/or caring for an insect hotel they are many things a child can learn with our help; from the importance of these small beings for the balance of the ecosystem, to respect and responsibility for their environment.
- Learning about diversity: By observing an insect hotel, children can learn about the diversity of species that live in their area, their reproduction and how each one plays an important role in the ecosystem.
- Environmental awareness: In addition, children can develop greater awareness about the importance of conserving and Protect the environment.
- Development of motor and cognitive skills: Creating an insect hotel and then observing and caring for them can help children develop fine motor skills as well as cognitive skills by observing insect behavior and interactions.
- Promoting patience and responsibility. By caring for insects and their environment, children encourage patience and responsibility.
- Stimulation of curiosity and interest: The insect hotel can arouse children's curiosity and stimulate their interest in the natural life around them.
how to create one
If having an insect hotel can be beneficial for your child, Imagine if you built it from scratch! There is no shortage of commercial alternatives but you can have a good time together collecting all the necessary materials and shaping them later. You will only have to follow these steps:
- Gather the necessary materials: A wooden box, branches, leaves, stones, pine cones, cardboard tubes (made of toilet paper, aluminum foil or absorbent paper), wire cloth, straw, and other natural materials that can serve as shelter for insects.
- remove the lid. To make the insect hospital you need the box to be open on one side so that the insects can enter and exit easily.
- Create different levels and textures. The most fun moment of this DIY arrives, placing branches, leaves, stones and other natural materials inside the box to create different levels and textures that allow the different insects to find a place to take refuge.
- Close with wire mesh. Once the box is full, place a piece of wire cloth to contain all the elements and at the same time allow the insects to pass through.
- find a place to place the insect hotel. Place the box in a place protected from sun and rain, in a corner of the garden or on the balcony. Do it at a certain height so that pets and smaller children do not reach it and disturb the insects.
Once built, you will only have to invite your child to observe the insects that settle in the hotel and encourage him to learn more about them. Children are fascinated by learning about animals and this is an activity that will provide them with a fun, educational and enriching experience.