When temperatures rise, people aren’t the only ones looking to cool down. Bumblebees, bees and the like also depend on the cool water. Due to shrinking habitat and the negative effects of agriculture, animals are finding it increasingly rare to do so naturally. The small beneficial insects need the water to quench their thirst and also to build nests. You can provide useful support to the animals by setting up an insect trough. You can find out here what you need to pay attention to and how you can build an insect trough yourself.
Finding a suitable water source is often difficult for insects. Their habitat is disappearing as people expand and agriculture is reducing the quality of those who remain. If insects discover the cool water, they need a suitable landing place in order to be able to drink. The risk of drowning should not be underestimated, as this can prevent the small animals from taking in water.
Insect drinkers are therefore adapted to the beneficial insects and, with suitable landing places, enable safe drinking. The water cannot be deep and there needs to be elevations on which the animals can land. You can choose between practical insect potions that have been specially designed for your visitors and those that you can build yourself. The former already have safe landing areas and only need to be filled with water. However, the latter only require a few materials and can be built quickly.
Place the insect drinker in a sunny, warm and, if possible, windless place. Proximity to bee- and bumblebee-friendly plants is ideal. You should change the water at regular intervals to avoid the development of pathogens.
For the homemade insect potion you only need a few things. The basis is a shallow bowl, which can be dishes or a small bird bath. The insects need landing places to protect themselves from drowning in the cool water. It is best to fill the shallow bowl with small stones, wood or plant materials such as moss on which the insects can land safely.
If small landing places in the form of stones, wood or plants are placed in the insect drinker, fill them with fresh water. Make sure that the stones are halfway out of the water. You can spread some moss between the stones and on the edge of the waterer so that the insects have enough space to create enough landing spots.
Sources: Nabu, Geo
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