Nature on our doorsteps: Helping springtime insects

INSECTS overwinter either as adults, as larvae (caterpillars or grubs), or inside pupae (cocoons).

They hide away inside hollow plant stems or under dead autumn leaves, waiting for spring.

Insects face many challenges in an Irish spring, however.

Spring can be very unpredictable, with mixtures of wet and windy weather separated by cold and frosty days, sometimes even up to the month of May.

Occasional periods of very mild weather, however, can encourage insects out of their hiding places earlier than expected.

When these conditions are then followed by more typical challenging spring weather, many insects may not survive.

Growing flowers like Forget-me-not will attract Holly Blue butterflies to the garden

While we may not be in a position to change springtime weather, we can still help insects endure this period of uncertainty.

Waiting a little longer in springtime before we clear away the dead debris where insects hide over winter can keep these insects safe for a little longer.

Grow a wide range of spring-flowering plants in the garden to provide pollen and nectar throughout this season.

In April, ‘Don’t mow, let it grow’.

By not cutting the lawn too regularly at this time of the year, important flowers like Dandelions and Cowslips will provide vital food to early bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.

Not using garden spays and pesticides will also help emerging springtime insects.

Alternatively, switch over to using less harmful organic products.

Create a small south-facing mound of bare earth to encourage solitary mining bees to nest.

Also, drill small holes in wood or concrete walls for cavity-nesting solitary bees.

While shop-bought bee hotels can be useful, a number of quite small hotels placed well away from one another is better than one large one, as disease and insect predators can do more damage at large bee hotels.

Given the many challenges that insects face, a little help in springtime goes a long way.

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