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Insect hotels - are they valid?
mantolwen-ING
Posts: 27 ✭✭✭
One object I see a lot but I'm not sure how to vote on is an insect/bee hotel. It's a man made wooden structure for insects to find a home, supporting the local wildlife to flourish.
I'm not sure if they have cultural significance or are not interesting? Personally I quite like them as objects but I'm not sure if they meet Niantic criteria.
Best Answer
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TheFarix-PGO
Posts: 4,964 ✭✭✭✭✭
Insect hotels are just like bird and bat houses; they are simply not eligible on their own. If they are accompanied by a signboard explaining the role of the insect hotel or about particular insects, the the signboard is an eligible nomination.
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Answers
For me, they need to be substantial example and on obvious permanent addition to the park or location where they have been installed.
Small off the shelf example would be 1* does not meet criteria where a large example in a country park with some unique feature such as XXX park bug hotel on a sign or actually on the hotel would convince me it's legitimate.
For me it would need to be a substantial example in a location that is a park or public space with other attraction where the general public would have access.
Small off the shelf bug hotels would be 1* does not meet criteria but if the example has bespoke features such as a sign stating "xxxx park bug hotel" or some unique feature on the hotel itself I would be more inclined to think that it is legit and 4*
If it's a local attraction, especially one that's been funded by government, it's a 5* for me. I would imaging insect hotels would have somet educational (cultural) value to them.
5* from me, most of the ones that i've reviewed have either been placed by a school, a charity or a nature reserve/park meaning that they will be maintained properly, they're important culturally because they help to support local wildlife
I've had quite a few from France that are large (think size of a dressing table or big set of drawers) that are in parks and I've happily accepted them. I wouldn't pass a commercial one the size of a bird box.
I wouldn't pass a bird box but I'd consider a Dovecote.
Insect hotels are just like bird and bat houses; they are simply not eligible on their own. If they are accompanied by a signboard explaining the role of the insect hotel or about particular insects, the the signboard is an eligible nomination.
We have those as well and they are generally accepted in the region.
They aren't store bought, but they are large and maintained by an organization (nature, local government, ...). Some have educational signs about nature, some do not, but they are visually unique items in their areas.
This is one that I thought significant enough (and with enough signage) to submit and it was approved
Congratz! Yeah, the signage really helps. Things like that without signage makes it hard for reviewers to know whether or not it's meant for people to approach, so reviewers (and niantic) are very cautious about it. The signage is a really good show that it's meant for people to approach and learn from, so it gives the all-clear for safe access and other criteria.
1 star rejection "Live Animals". This is a rejection.
If separate information signage is next to it, than that should be submitted not live animals.
The focus is the structure. Not the bugs. Unlikely you can even see bugs in the photo. That would be an incorrect use of the "Live Animals" rejection reason.
Bees are still live animals. Safe accessibility is limited because people can be allergic to Bees.
The 1* Live Animal rejection reason is for the focus of the nomination being a live animal. It has nothing to do with whether people can be allergic to whatever the nomination is. And that certainly isn't ever a reason to reject something for no safe access.
The focus is a Bee's home. That is focusing on a live animal. People not having safe access is a grounds for rejection. Bees can sting people, that isn't safe when using a wayspot. We can wait for Niantic's response.
The focus is of the structure, not the insects that probably wouldn't be seen anyway in the photo.
Safe access relates to it being accessible on foot, nothing to do with the very slim chance that someone could get stung by a bee.
The focus is of the structure, not the insects that probably wouldn't be seen anyway in the photo.
Safe access relates to it being accessible on foot, nothing to do with the very slim chance that someone could get stung by a bee.
Safe access relates to safe access. Foot or not. Bees sting people. Putting people at risk for being stung isn't safe access to the wayspot.
It is not safe to have a wayspot in the middle of the road because people can get hit by a car. Having a wayspot at a Bee's Home is still putting players at risk.
In that case, parks and public gardens shouldn't be allowed because someone might get stung by a bee.
Hiking trails shouldn't be allowed either by that logic because of insects that might sting.
And so on.
This is a massive stretch. Given that bees don't tend to sting people unless they're being attacked anyway, it isn't a reason to reject. People need to use common sense.
And to be really pedantic, hypothetically if we are claiming bees are dangerous, this would have safe access for beekeepers and anyone wearing protective clothes. Not all Wayspots need to be safely accessed by everyone 100% of the time right?
Are you going to submit a Bear's cave next at a state park? Surely you wouldn't want players attacked by a bear.
There is plenty of other valid submissions that don't put players in danger by spinning a wayspot.
I'm not sure what a state park is and last time I checked, there are no wild bears in the UK, but I could be wrong.
Not that any of this has anything to do with the original question: Are insect hotels valid?
So, unless you're going to answer that answer properly, without derailing g the thread or using six-points-of-separation arguments, there is no need for us to be continuing this discussion. If you want to argue safe access over the slight chance of a bee stinging someone, start your own thread about it.
State park is similar to a national park. We have 3 various types of parks in the USA. National Parks, State Parks, and Public Parks. Different governments that govern them.
End of the day safety of players is the concern. Niantic can decide I even said that. But you do not want to purposely put a player in potential danger. wayspots in the middle of the road have a spot for a player to stand but is still considered a danger because cars can hit a person. Same would go with animals that could hurt players. Purposely having wayspots at Bee Homes is not safe for players. Players shouldn't be at bee Homes. A person's job may not be eligible if it is deemed unsafe by Niantic.
@Gabriel0322-PGO - You might want to read up on insects and insect houses. The only common bee that regularly stings is the Honey Bee. Honey Bees needs a specific type of home - hives will attract them, but they won't live in an insect hotel. The bees that might live in an insect hotel will be one of the other 2000 odd bee species. Principally the bees you'll find in an insect hotel are members of the solitary group - many don't sting at all, and of the very few that do it's only the females who have a very mild venom (much, much milder than that of Honey Bees) and only attack if threatened. Even if handled solitary bees very rarely sting.
Thank god, he’s finally done with this thread now.