Live in Wayfarer 3.1 is a new set of acceptance criteria! Please browse the information in this category with caution as it is in reference to the previous review guidelines. To learn more about the new criteria, see here: https://niantic.helpshift.com/a/wayfarer/
Bug Hotels
WandHerring-PGO
Posts: 139 ✭✭✭✭
I've been seeing a lot of bug hotels (artificial insect shelter that looks like houses) submitted as of late and I have a couple questions regarding them:
- I generally accepts larger ones, and I see quite a few being approved, because I consider them to tie in with the wayfarer's value of exploration and community. Creating a sustainable and healthy ecosystem is crucial to keep those parks and trails enjoyable to visit. Plus I think they serve an indirect educational purpose by reminding passersby of the importance of these critters we're often too quickly swat with the sole of our shoes. Am I correct in my assessment?
- Considering point 1 as valid, comes the question of size. Some are quite big 1.5m to 2m tall, 1+m wide. Others are however no bigger than a bird house. Would size alone be enough to disqualify the smaller ones if they're permanent fixtures in public places? If so what would be the approximate minimum size to make them eligible?
Thank you in advance for your help
Answers
Accept if they have an educational signboard (focus should be the signboard, not the insect hotel). Otherwise, reject for not meeting criteria. Same goes for birdhouses and bat houses. Size of the habitat should not be a consideration.
Related, I have a "Naturalized Area" sign in my submission crosshairs. Sign has no text other than Naturalized Area, but my draft description describes the purpose and significance of such a Naturalized Area to provide habitat for pollinators and other critters.
See this discussion: https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/2009/insect-houses-are-these-eligible-wayspots
and this discussion: https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/537/insect-hotels-are-they-valid
Thanks for the info @JSteve0-ING ! The search bar breaks on me whenever I try to use it so it was really helpful.
I'm... not convinced however. If you had a bird house/feeder the size and intricacy of some of these insect hotels in a park there wouldn't be any discussion it would make for a good POI. A better comparison would be a birdbath in a park, which arguably push people to go out more just by making walking more enjoyable. I can totally see an insect hotel being considered as a nice little attraction you bring the kids to on a Sunday stroll. Most of them are unique in design so they're not mass produced. And, I don't know, to me they carry the same values promoted by the Wayfarer in spirit. The preservation and cohabitation with nature is an aspect of exploration.
I'm also mildly fond of having the opinion of one person not part of the staff being given weight just by being repeated again and again. I respect power users for their contributions to any community, but I'm also always wary to give too much authority to individuals not endorsed by the official administrative team.
The fact these structures keep being accepted again and again means the community is rather split on the topic, and considering people keep asking about it, it would be nice to have a clear, official guideline about them.
There was a known bug affecting the search feature that has been restored.
Yay!