Did you know that there are over 270 different species of bee in the UK? There are 24 different types of bumblebees, with the honeybee being the most well-known, but did you know that the remaining 200-plus are known as solitary bees?
Solitary bees aren’t like honeybees that live in hives. As their name suggests, they make their nests on their own and lay their eggs in tunnels, such as in dead wood or hard soil. Changes in our land use including intensive urban development and farming have caused significant losses of bee habitats. Over the winter months Prydium have installed 6 bee hotels at Canvey PCC, North Road Health Centre and Valkyrie Health Centre ready for the bees to use in Spring.
Installing bee hotels mimics the bees natural nesting conditions and provides a safe haven so that they can nest and hibernate without the risk of having their home destroyed.
And it’s not just bees who are welcome in the hotel – lots of different types of minibeast and insects such as ladybirds, bees, spiders and woodlice also benefit from access to the bug hotel, using it as a safe space to shelter, lay their eggs, raise their young, and seek refuge from predators. Giving a home to bugs that are losing their natural habitat is an important factor in conservation as it helps to ensure that they can continue to survive and thrive. These insects are vital to the maintenance of our planet. This is because we rely on them to pollinate a huge chunk of the food we eat, including crops, vegetables and fruit.
