Making the Homes Comfortable

The aim of each of the insect homes is to try and encourage a single native species of insect to take up residency and this, from the little research I have done, will be difficult. But the plan at the moment is to try and replicate the natural habitat of the insect species in the box, so for the solitary bees it will be compacted sand to mimic their nesting areas. Weta on the other hand are one species that seems to be relatively easy to build a home for and there are plenty of places around New Zealand that provide weta hotels.

An actual Weta Hotel

Image Via http://www.childspace.co.nz/page/murals_streams__weta_hotels.html

Image Via http://www.childspace.co.nz/page/murals_streams__weta_hotels.html

Image Via http://www.childspace.co.nz/page/murals_streams__weta_hotels.html

How to Attract a Giraffe Weevil?

I will be building some test insect homes soon so I will have to learn how to attract various insects to take up residence in their swanky new homes. So if you see a man of around 50 years make sounds like a male cicada next to a small wooden box, you don't need to ring the police. But first I will need to choose what insects might be best to attract.

Weta Homes

Weta are a species of cricket found only in New Zealand and some are restricted to off shore islands as the mainland population has been effected by the arrival of predators, such as rats. Some of them grow to a large size and can look frightening.

In many places across New Zealand people have made various designs for weta hotels and they seem happy to move in where they are provided. The design I plan to develop is using as a starting point some state flats, which will be on the facade, behind this will be a log, split in half and a space hollowed out to all the weta to live in comfort.

I will look at having the facade hinged so people can have a look at an weta that have made the flats their home. You can also get a guide on making your own weta home and the video shows a simple method, using bamboo and wire from here.