What is a Bee Hotel?
Bee hotels (also called bee houses) are similar to bird houses, but instead of attracting birds, they attract solitary bee species. These bees are docile (not prone to sting), of different colors and sizes, and very effective as pollinators. They don’t produce honey; however, they contribute to bee biodiversity, and the pollination of our local plants and garden vegetables.
Bee hotels are usually constructed of wood and resemble a birdhouse-like structure and contain native bee nesting materials—typically hollow reeds or cardboard tubes several inches long. Bee hotel maintenance takes little effort overall, just annual refreshing with new nesting materials.
Some of the most common solitary bees that can be observed in bee hotels are mason and leafcutter bees. Many of these bee species are already present in our area but providing them with a place to nest in your backyard can further support their populations.
If you are interested in building and/or installing a bee hotel in your green space, here are some important considerations:
- Wood makes a great bee hotel, but it should not be painted on the inside.
- Orient the bee hotel to face the morning sun (East or South-East).
- Protect the nesting tubes from rain, wind, and birds.
- Place it about 4-5 feet off the ground and attach it firmly to a post or building.
- Make sure to have or provide flowering plants and moist soil nearby.
From the City's Bee City Committee
The City of College Park has installed several bee hotels on public land. They can be found at:
- Permaculture Garden on the wooden fence (top right)
- Old Town Community Garden (bottom right)
- Hollywood Gateway Park (below)