Natural insect hotels

In Vilnius, on the banks of the river Neris and in parks, city residents notice fallen and decaying trees. This is not negligence on the part of the city’s caretakers. Dying, rotting trees enter another life cycle — they become homes and food for other smaller animals, insects, plants, fungi, and later turn into fertiliser for the soil.

These trees are particularly important for the ecological health of a natural area. A single fallen tree contains more than 5,000 organisms of all kinds that feed on dead wood. Both dead trees that are still standing and those that have already fallen and are decaying are valuable. They are home and food to a variety of life forms.