To mark World Bee Day 2024, two “Bee Hotels”—small houses for solitary bees—were installed in our historic vineyard
Through this initiative, Perlage aims to help preserve the biodiversity of the vineyard ecosystem by providing a refuge for solitary bees and other pollinating insects.
The Bee Hotels are created by the Palm Work&Project Social Cooperative (a non-profit organization) in Viadana-Mantua, which is committed to the ethical development of work as a human and professional value through the integration of socially disadvantaged groups.
These insect habitats are made from certified reclaimed wood. Safe, welcoming, and stylish, they are designed according to the principles of upcycling (creative reuse) and sustainability, adopting a holistic approach aimed at preserving biodiversity.
The bee hotels installed in the Riva Moretta vineyard are small in size (to limit insect density and prevent the spread of diseases and pests), hexagonal in shape, and feature internal recesses or “rooms” separated from one another, each containing different types of plant-based filling materials: pieces of leaves, bamboo canes, and pieces of wood.
Filling these spaces with different materials creates an environment conducive to insect nesting; in fact, some species tend to nest under small pieces of wood, while others lay their eggs inside openings or hollow stems.
The “compartments” are protected by a small wooden roof to prevent water from entering the nesting site, to prevent mold growth, and to slow down the degradation of the interior material. The entrance to the bee hotel is also shielded by a metal mesh that prevents birds from attacking it.
Following the planting of heirloom fruit tree varieties and the creation of rainwater collection ponds, the installation of bee hotels is a further step toward experimenting with sustainable practices to promote biodiversity in the vineyard.
To learn more about the cooperative’s activities and bee hotels , click here.
