{"id":12081,"date":"2013-10-21T00:01:07","date_gmt":"2013-10-21T04:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=12081"},"modified":"2013-10-21T09:22:21","modified_gmt":"2013-10-21T13:22:21","slug":"study-identifies-plants-most-attractive-to-insect-pollinators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2013\/10\/study-identifies-plants-most-attractive-to-insect-pollinators\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Identifies Garden Plants Most Attractive to Insect Pollinators"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides, October 21, 2013) A study conducted by Sussex University researchers has identified the garden plants most attractive to \u00a0pollinating insects. The study\u2019s findings are important as pollinating insects are declining globally and are facing growing habitat losses. The study also gives vital scientific information to individuals and communities on plants that are most beneficial to pollinators. Although creating pollinator friendly habits is an important step to slowing pollinator population decline, environmental groups and activists are focused on addressing the underlying problem that leads to pollinator population loss: the continuous use of toxic pesticides.\"bee-almond-blossom\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The study, Quantifying variation among garden plants in attractiveness to bees and other flower-visiting insects<\/a>, published in Functional Ecology, \u00a0collected data over two summers by counting flower-visiting pollinators on 32 popular garden plant varieties to determine which varieties are more attractive to pollinators. The study found that the most attractive flowers are 100 times more attractive than the least attractive flowers. According to the study, the most attractive flowers are borage, lavender, marjoram, and open-flower dahlias. Majoram was the best all-round flower, attracting honey bees, bumble bees, other bees, hover flies, and butterflies. While information on pollinator friendly flowers is widely available, this study was designed to, \u201cput that advice on a firmer scientific footing, by gathering information about the actual number of insects visiting the flowers to collect nectar or pollen,” according to study co-author Francis Ratnieks, Ph.D., quoted in a BBC article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The study\u2019s findings have several interesting implications. First, planting pollinator friendly plants does not involve extra cost or gardening effort, or loss of aesthetic attractiveness, as these flowers are not more expensive or more time consuming to plant than non-pollinator friendly flowers. The study authors acknowledge that while \u00a0their sample of \u00a032 plants is limited, the results should encourage further research to develop more scientific understanding of those \u00a0flowers most attractive to insect pollinators. This study can also help cities and towns plan which flower varieties to plant in parks and public spaces so they can increase biodiversity<\/a> and support pollinators.<\/p>\n

Beyond Pesticides recently released its own BEE Protective Habitat Guide<\/a>, which provides information on creating native pollinator habitat in communities, eliminating bee-toxic chemicals, and other advocacy tools. This habitat guide is part of the BEE Protective campaign <\/a>launched by Beyond Pesticides this past Earth Day. The grassroots campaign is part of a larger effort to protect bees from rapid declines spurred by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and other hazards associated with pesticides. The launch came one month after beekeepers, Center for Food Safety, Beyond Pesticides, and Pesticide Action Network North America filed a lawsuit against EPA calling for the suspension of certain neonicotinoid pesticides<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pesticides, specifically neonicotinoids, have increasingly been linked to bee declines. These chemicals are used extensively in U.S. agriculture, especially as seed treatment for corn and soybeans. Agriculture is not the only concern however, as pesticide applications in home gardens, city parks, plant nurseries<\/a>, and landscaping are also prime culprits in the proliferation of these harmful chemicals. The systemic residues of these \u00a0pesticides not only contaminate pollen, nectar, and the wider environment, but have repeatedly been identified as highly toxic to honey bees.<\/p>\n

A recent example of neonicotinoids’ toxic effects on bees was the massive bee death in Wilsonville, Oregon. 50,000 bumblebees were found dead or dying<\/a> in a shopping mall after dinotefuran<\/a>, a neonicotinoid pesticide, was applied to nearby trees. After this incident the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) placed a temporary restriction <\/a>on the use of pesticides with the active ingredient dinotefuran and the \u00a0 Oregon State University Extension Service revised its publication, “How to Reduce Bee Poisonings from Pesticides<\/a>\u201d. The publication contains research and regulations pertaining to pesticides and bees and describes residual toxicity periods for several pesticides. Though this temporary restriction and revised guide are important steps that acknowledge the effects neonicotiniod pesticides have on pollinators, they should only be viewed as the initial steps towards a complete ban on neonicotinoid pesticides.<\/a><\/p>\n

Take Action:<\/b> \u00a0Beyond Pesticides\u2019 BEE Protective campaign has all the educational tools you need to stand up for pollinators. Some specific ways you can help are:<\/p>\n