Pune based conservationist builds tallest bee hotel to shelter native bees

PUNE, India  May 20, 2024 – The United Nations has marked May 20th as World Bee Day. It is celebrated on this day each year to raise awareness of the importance of bees as pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development. This year, the theme is “Bee engaged with Youth”.

 City-based Bee conservationist Devendra Jani came up with unique idea to spread the importance of native Bees within citizens. He has designed the tallest Bee hotel.

Bee hotels are a type of insect hotel for solitary pollinator bees, providing them rest and shelter. Typically, these bees would nest in hollow plant stems, holes in dead wood, or other natural cavities; a bee hotel attempts to mimic this structure.

As a precursor to the World Bee day, Devendra has conducted two sessions last week to reach City youths. He conducted a session about importance of Bees at Rahul Rupa Bajaj Centre in Empress garden. At TomTom India he inspired young corporates with leadership lessons we can learn from Bees. 

Jani said “Unlike the honey Bees we know who live in huge hive, there are solitary Bees who nest in wood logs or mud barrows. These native solitary Bees do more pollination than honey Bees. In a busy city like Pune there is dearth of old trees or dry wood. So a dedicated place to rest & nest for solitary was much needed.” 

Some on the commonly seen Solitary Bees are Leafcutter Bee, Carpenter Bees, Mason Bee, Cuckoo Bee and  Blue Banded Bee. 

1/3rd of the world’s food supply relies on Bees. Without bees, food would be scarce, and a vast portion of the population would be impacted.

Rampant use of Pesticide, Fungicide in the farming sector are major reasons for migration of native Bee population towards urban spaces. “Citizens can also make Bee hotel at home. Tie a bunch of Bamboo straws with Paper Straws and hang them in a quiet green space to see them getting occupied by Leafcutter Bees”, assures Devendra Jani. 

The official inauguration of this tallest Bee hotel will be done next month.