Insect nesting aids as habitats

Instead of “hotels”, small animals also need social housing. Many of the “insect hotels” available in stores don't work properly. It is better to make your own nesting aids or to buy them from the suppliers listed below. There is a plethora of great instructions, of which you will find a selection here. You’ll see, it’s worth it. Have fun observing!

The following collection of Internet links was selected as an example and does not claim to be complete.

Overview:

Tips for species support for wild bees and other insects; description of different elements such as nesting tubes, nesting logs, deadwood, clay crates and sand heaps, bumble bee and hornet nesting boxes:
UMG Umweltbüro Grabher: Nisthilfen für Insekten (naturtipps.at)
The furry juggernauts: Information on bumble bees, bumble bee field guides, link to the bumble bee reporting platform:
Naturschutzbund: Hummeln kennen, erforschen und schützen (naturschutzbund.at)

SELF-ASSEMBLY:

Video instructions for how to build workable nesting aids; drilling in hardwood logs; many examples:
Werner David: sinnvolle Insektennisthilfen (youtube.com)
Instruction for assembling a wild bee hotel, practical advice, dos and don'ts:
Natur im Garten: Wildbienenhotel selbst bauen (PDF)

Sources:

List of supply sources for insect nesting aids:
Die Umweltberatung: Bezugsquellen für Nisthilfen und Nützlingshäuser (umweltberatung.at)

Further browsing:

Extensive information by a wild bee expert on lifestyle, habitats, relationship to blossoms, manifold ideas on how to promote wild bees at home, in your garden, or in your school:
Paul Westrich: Faszination Wildbienen (wildbienen.info)