Snapshot : Bug-ingham Palace Insect Hotel
This buzzworthy Bristol hotel , tucked behind the Audubon Society of Rhode Island ’ s nature center , serves solo travelers on life ’ s great journey . Beetles , carpenter bees , butterflies , moths and other solitary insects lay their eggs in its chambers and then die , leaving their larvae to overwinter in a safe place and hatch in the spring . “ I think it ’ s beautiful ,” says Audubon senior director of education Lauren Parmelee of the habitat , which was designed by landscape architect John Gwynne and built by Audubon caretaker Barry Cohen out of natural and recycled materials . The space also features bird boxes and a bat box . “ It gives [ visitors ] a topic of conversation and a place to investigate .” Bug-ingham Palace might offer the royal treatment , but Parmelee adds , “ You don ’ t have to do anything fancy .” All pollinators need are some native flora , water and leaf matter , and they ’ ll feel right at home in your backyard , too . – CASEY NILSSON
96 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MARCH 2021