Earth Day Project - Recycled Bugs

So even though there is still snow in the picture its now April.  Earth Day is only two weeks away and our 4-H meeting is next week.  I was trying to find a way to incorporate bugs into our projects this month and still do an Earth friendly recycle project that was not just for decoration but had an actual Earth friendly purpose.

A Recycled Bug Can Mason Bee Home it is!  I know its a bit of long project name but it all makes sense I promise.
This buggy project should definitely get one in the mood for Earth Day with all the recycling and re-purposing we are going to do here.  Every item in this project is from recycling, reusing or even just using left over supplies from other projects. We start with recycled vegetable cans, plastic bottles, news paper and even toilet paper rolls.  The googly eyes, glue, paint, bamboo stakes and even the screw used to hold it all together are all left overs from previous projects.
And if all that wasn't a great start for an Earth Day project we are also doing our part to help out one of our friendly pollinators the Mason Bee by supplying it a place to call home.  Hopefully the Mason Bee will return the favor by pollinating our garden this year.

Photo credit Wikipedia Mason Bee

Not sure what a Mason Bee is or if you have them in your area?  According to Wikipedia, Mason Bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests.  When available some species preferentially use hollow stems or holes in wood made buy wood-boring insects. 
To learn more about Mason Bees follow the link here.

To Learn how you can make your own Recycled Bug Can Mason Bee Home check out my step by step instructions below.

First you need to get your tools and supplies ready.  We tried to re-purpose, use left over and recycle as much as we could for this project.  It was easy for us as after 3yrs of being a 4-H leader I have loads of left over items here and there but if you do not have some of these items on hand it is perfectly fine if you need to actually purchase a few items.

Supply list:
Clean Recycled Vegetable Can (or any size)
Clean Recycled Bottle
News Paper
2 Toilet Paper Rolls
Stake (we used a left over bamboo rod but any stick will work)
Waterproof Glue
Googly Eyes
Scissors
Screw Driver and Screw (we used a drywall screw but really any screw will work)
Drill Bit as wide as your stake
Pencil (optional)
Exterior Paint and Primer

Start by priming your can.  We used Spray primer as we had it already but if you wanted a different kind I'm sure it would work.  The primer just helps the paint cover better.

Now you will need to choose the colors you want for your bug.  In this one we are making a bumble bee so we just did yellow and black but really you can choose any colors you would like.  For best coverage you may need a second coat, we did with our yellow.

While you are waiting for your paint to dry you can begin to build the Mason Bee Home part of the project.  You will need to cut your newspaper into strips that are shorter than the can is long but long enough to wrap around a pencil about 5 times.  I just guessed and did what was long enough to wrap around the can.  You are making the "hollow stems" mentioned above.  You do not need to use the pencil but it did work easier for us.  Your stem openings should be around 1/4 to 1/2 an inch wide.  As it was hard to keep them all from unrolling while you fill your toilet paper rolls we did use a small piece of tape on each stem to hold them in place.

       

When the paint on your can is dry you can begin to make your bug.  Using  your drill make the hole for your stake.  It does go a little smoother if you have something inside the can to support the side.  Just be sure it is something that is okay to drill into should the drill go too deep.

Next cut your wings out of the plastic bottle.  We found it easier to cut the bottle top and bottom off so we could flatten the center "wing" section of the bottle.  Once you have  your center flat cut the wing shape out.  We folded ours and cut one side so we would have matching wings.  While most would toss the top and bottom of the bottle we are doing a recycle project here so we suggest you save the top to use as a funnel or even a small planter green house.  The bottom can be painted and turned into decorative flowers you can use in your garden to help attract more pollinators (see images below)

Now you can attach  your wings and add your Mason Bee home.  We screwed down from the top to connect into the stake that goes all the way though the can making the bug house a bit more sturdy. Now you can add your filled toilet paper rolls in the back of the can, one on each side of the stake.  Ours fit snugly but  you may still want to glue them to your stake to prevent them from falling out.  We just used a dab of glue on each roll to hold it to the side of the stake.

Almost done, while you have your glue right there handy you can now attach your eyes.  Add a smile with a touch of paint and done. 

Be sure you allow 24-48 hours for all your glue and paint to dry thoroughly before placing your Recycled Bug Can Mason Bee Home outside, there is that ridiculously long name again but now it makes sense right?  In our cause we have to wait for the ground to defrost before we put ours out but it will be fun to see once we get them out how quickly they become homes for Mason Bees or any other pollinators who need a home. Not only that but now everyone can feel great about doing a little more for Earth Day.

Happy Earth Day 2018!