Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit based at Cornell University partnered with Auburn University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to investigate the attractiveness of 18 wildflower species commonly recommended by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support native bees.
Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, based at Cornell University, partnered with Auburn University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to investigate the attractiveness of 18 wildflower species commonly recommended by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support native bees in the southeastern U.S. In this common garden experiment, bees were presented with a choice of wildflower species throughout the growing season. The researchers assessed the attractiveness of different, blooming wildflower species by collecting and counting the foraging bees on each plant species’ flowers.