The Natural History Museum has placed several insect hotels in the botanical garden.
You will find a large hotel at the front of the Riding Hall (red cylindrical building), and several small hotels scattered around the garden and in the forest behind the museum.
In front of the Riding Hall (red cylindrical building), we have placed a large insect hotel. The hotel serves as both an information point, inspiration, and as a breeding and overwintering place for insect larvae.
What is an insect hotel?
An insect hotel, also called bug hotel, is not a place where insects sleep at night. It is a place for nesting- and hibernating. Insects lay eggs in the hotel during spring and early summer that later hatches and becomes larvae. During summer and autumn, the larvae pupate in cocoons. When spring arrives, the pupae hatch, releasing the adult insect, which leaves the hotel.
What is the purpose of insect hotels?
Several insect hotels are located around the garden. These hotels facilitate for biodiversity. An additional purpose is to provide knowledge and create awareness and engagement regarding conservation of wild pollinating insects, and biodiversity in general.
The Small Hotels
The small hotels in the garden are created as part of a collaborative project between the museum and teacher and pedagogy students at University of Agder.
The project aims to promote biodiversity. Additionally, we aim to convey knowledge about and raise awareness and engagement regarding the conservation of wild pollinating insects, especially, and biodiversity in general.
The hotels are not only used by insects and small creatures, they are also used in education. Therefore, some of the small hotels are placed in "poor insect locations," but in areas that facilitate learning and reflection.