3D Print Your Own Bee Lodge
IBCP 3D Printable Bee Lodge Instructions
In collaboration with UCC and MTU Schools of Architecture
The Irish Bee Conservation Project (IBCP), in partnership with UCC and MTU’s Schools of Architecture, has designed this 3D-printed Solitary Bee Lodge to raise awareness about Ireland’s solitary bees. This lodge is specifically for cavity-nesting solitary bees, which use small tubes to lay their eggs.
What You’ll Need:
- 3D Printer (available in many libraries and schools)
- Brown PLA Filament
- Paper straws, bamboo, or cardboard drinking straws
- Cut to 125mm in length
- Diameter: from 10mm down to 5mm for variety
Assembly:
- 3D Print the Bee Lodge using brown PLA filament.
- Cut and insert the straws into the printed lodge, packing them tightly together to fill all the space.
Mount the lodge:
- Height: 1 to 1.5 metres above ground
- Orientation: Facing South to South-East
- Mount on a timber post or wall — do not attach to a living tree
Care and Observation:
- Occupied tubes will have mud or leaves blocking their entrances — this means bees are using them!
- In September, remove the lodge from outdoors to protect it from winter dampness.
- Store it in a dry, unheated shed or garage.
- Return the lodge outside in late March when bees are active again.
Important Reminder:
🌼 Bees need food! Support pollinators by sowing a patch of wildflowers, large or small, nearby. This provides essential nectar and pollen for your garden’s new residents.
