Bug Box Cleaning

[Fireweed]

We have a bug box on a south-facing wall. It is a rectangular, open front, wooden box, with a peaked roof, and full of the stems of various plants.

I have no idea about cleaning and refurbishing this box!

It could do with having some bird poo removed from the outside.

Also, when is the best time to replace old stems with new stems?

It's all "when, what and how"! Any help, please?

[Richard Baber]

Good question.

I made a free-standing, three-storey, open-fronted bug box from a wooden pallet three years ago and stuff hollow stems in it whenever any become available. It's nearly full now.

As long as the stems remain dry I see no reason to move them, or clean the inside of the box, though I would happily be educated to the contrary. As for the bird poo, I would wipe it it off with a cloth soaked in mild disinfectant and rinse it with clean water afterwards, trying not to get any water inside the box if you left the stems in place. There may well be over-wintering insects in place now, so I would wait until Spring is well underway.

Richard

[Wild-Woman]

I think you may find that some insects will do their own spring clean, especially if it's an established bug box. Also, the rotting down process will add another layer of inverts, so top up with new stems but keep the old too. In the process of clearing out, you may accidently be removing over-wintering eggs, larvae and pupae of certain inverts.

[Jason Green]

Evening FW,

The cut-stems will possibly be holding eggs of a spring-emerging bee/wasp species. The dirt you see may be the mud sealing the exit! This year's generation will still happily emerge. As W-W says, they'll clean it themselves prior to use if they need. Feel free to gently scrape the bird stuff off with a chisel or the abrasive side of a sponge (no chemicals please, as I'm sure you know!).

I'm looking forward to seeing my emerging Osmia rufa bees from mine, this year!

Take care,

Jason

[nightshade]

I am very remiss with my "bug boxes" the only cleaning I do is to remove
the occasional spiders web that covers the whole front of the boxes this does not happen too often unless it is segestria florentina and they are too big to argue with
Segestria florentina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by nightshade

segestria florentina and they are too big to argue with [/url]

Oh yes indeed. My favourite spiders next to Wasp Spiders.

Bit off subject- didn't realise you got them in your neck of the wood nightshade.

[Fireweed]

Thanks for the responses.

Carefully clean the outside. Leave the inside. Add new stems when spaces appear. Simples!