Recent years have seen insect numbers fall by up to 80% in certain locations, a situation which represents a threat to nature and people alike. Insects, after all, are not just a source of food for other animals – they can also offer a natural form of pest control. As their natural habitats are constantly shrinking, Deutsche Bahn makes an active contribution to species protection by creating special “hotels” for bumblebees, wild bees and other insects at various locations.
Whether on the station forecourt, next to plants or logistics halls - Deutsche Bahn has already built such insect hotels at various locations. These dedicated nesting and hibernation structures are made of natural materials such as blocks of wood, wood wool, straw, reeds, bamboo sticks, brushwood, peat and clay.
Insect hotels at stations
At Hamburg-Harburg station, DB has planted the platform areas with new vegetation and installed an insect hotel. Mason bees, ladybugs and other flying friends can go there to nest and hibernate in safety. At the future station in Renningen in Baden-Wuerttemberg there are also several NABU certified insect hotels on the butterfly meadow. More are planned.
Insect hotels on factory premises
In July 2024, two insect hotels at the ICE maintenance depot in Rummelsburg, Berlin were installed. Together with the partner gartenetage Vertriebs GmbH, DB has created a new home for bumblebees, bees, butterflies & co. The rustic insect hotels with slate roofs are located directly next to a 2800 square meter rainwater infiltration area where a wildflower meadow has been sown.
Since mid-May 2025, the grounds of the DB Regio depot in Düsseldorf have also provided a new habitat for insects: Deutsche Bahn apprentices have built an insect hotel here and planted a 200 m² wildflower meadow. This provides endangered species such as wild bees and butterflies with new nesting sites.
Insect hotels along the railroad line
Over the course of 2024, DB has also installed a total of 100 insect hotels along the entire railroad line of the Südostbayernbahn (SOB). This will enable protection of wild bees, for example. An animal species that is crucial for the pollination and reproduction of many plant species.
