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Gardeners' World

How to...

make a bug box

Bug box being installed for insects

You will need:

  • Untreated timber
  • Hollow canes such as bamboo
  • Pieces of branch or other wood
  • Wood saw
  • 2.5cm nails and hammer
  • Drill and wood drill bit
  • Screwdriver and self-tapping screw

Overview

Make a bug box for insects and give nature a helping hand within your garden. Using easy-to-find scraps of timber, old bamboo canes and old branches, it will cost you very little and provide the perfect habitat for beneficial insects such as spiders, ladybirds, lacewings and bees.

How to do it

  1. Nailing pieces of wood togetherMake a simple box using scraps of untreated timber approximately 2cm thick. You will need four pieces of wood of equal length for the sides and one square piece for the back. Nail them together, leaving the front end open.

  2. Sawing a bamboo caneCut hollow canes such as bamboo into short lengths to fit in your bug box. You could also drill holes in pieces of wood or branch, making your holes different sizes to suit different insects.

  3. Placing canes in the boxFit the canes and wood into your box. Insects aren't fussy so you can make your box as rough and ready as you like.

  4. Attaching bug box to a fenceDrill a hole into the back of your box and fix it on to a fence or arch using the self-tapping screw.

Adam's Tip

Adam's Tip

"Place the bug box in a sheltered spot in your garden, but don't hide it too well or the insects won't find it."

Comments and rating

Overall rating (from 0 ratings):

0 out of 5

Thank you for all the bug box info and bee hotel I have been looking for projects like this

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