Snug bugs

DIY project from NZ Gardener magazine

Rose Hughes shows how to build a house fit for all kinds of beneficial bugs.

What to use

Loose bark suits centipedes, spiders and woodlice.
Old bamboo canes make excellent homes for some of our native solitary bees, which lay their eggs inside.
Pea straw or dry leaves provides a home for aphid-eating labybugs.
Decaying wood will feed the larvae of wood-boring beetles and support many beneficial fungi.

Materials

700mm x 300mm of 7mm untreated ply
1.5m x 20mm x 135mm untreated dressed pine
0.5m x 20mm x 180mm untreated dressed pine
Pencil, panel pins, picture hanging strips, wood glue and 8g x 25mm screws
Jigsaw, sander, drop saw, drill and bit
Resene Quick Dry acrylic primer undercoat, Resene test pots of Resene Nero, Resene Red Hot and Resene Japanese Laurel

For the filler:

Bamboo, pea straw, pine cones, old wood and/or bark

Cutting list from the 135mmwide pine:

2 x sides - back 335mm angled to 305mm at the front
1 x base & 1 x shelf – 210mm – with 7mm cut off the back edge
1 x lower divider - 135mm - with 7mm cut off the back edge
1 x upper divider - back 160mm angled to 135mm at the front with 7mm cut off the back edge

Cutting list from the 180mmwide pine:

1 x roof at 300mm.

Cutting list from the ply:

1 x back - 335mm x 210mm

Cost: $65

Instructions

Learn how to build a bug house/bug hotel:

Step 1
Mark the outline of the ladybird onto the ply (I found a template on the internet). Cut out using the jigsaw and sand smooth. Cut the box pieces.

Step 2
Mark the centre of the shelf from front to back. Drill two holes along this line, countersink on the underside. Glue and screw the upper divider into position. Repeat for the base divider.

Step 3
Keeping the front edges flush, mark the position of the base and the shelf on the two side panels. Drill and countersink two holes for each.

Step 4
Glue and screw the sides, base and shelf together. Mark the position of the screw holes on the roof. Drill and countersink the holes.

Step 5
Fill all the exterior screw holes, sand, mask and undercoat the exterior faces with Resene Quick Dry Primer. Attach the back panel with panel pins. Attach the roof.

Step 6
Undercoat and topcoat the ladybird shape – I used Resene Quick Dry Primer followed by Nero and Red Hot. Topcoat the house – I used Japanese Laurel. Cut bamboo to length and fill the recesses with your chosen materials. Attach the ladybird to the front of the house with picture hanging strips. Attach a hanging cord to the back of the house if required.

Photos: Rose Hughes

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