This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Bees may be relying on your lawn for their next meal, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. The researchers found that centipedegrass, a common turfgrass found in the Southeast, functions as a food source for bees.
Although bees typically pollinate flowers more in the springtime, growing urbanization, pesticide use and other habitat loss have limited their food options. "Pollination is one aspect of what bees do, but their role in biodiversity and ecology has so much value," said Shimat Joseph, corresponding author of the study and an associate professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "Urbanization is reducing both nesting habitat and food resources for them, so anything we can provide in addition helps." The findings are published in the Journal of Insect Conservation.
The researchers gathered more than 150 foraging bees of 28 different species (including bumblebees, honeybees and sweat bees) from yards across Georgia to evaluate the insects' foraging behavior. They found that adult bees not only collect grass pollen to supply food for themselves but also bring it back to the hive for their offspring. The researchers found that similar numbers of bee larvae developed on centipedegrass pollen as on more traditional bee nursery sources like butterfly bushes.
This suggests that centipedegrass could sustain at least the beginnings of a new colony, the researchers said. Grass is already an integral part of our landscape. Our job is to find ways to make those landscapes more helpful for pollinators.
Joseph, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences "What we know is that bees are foraging on these grasses. The question now is what that means for bee colonies over the long term," Joseph said. "For social bees like bumblebees, having a continuous supply of pollen throughout the spring and summer seasons is very important for our world." Although they foraged extensively on centipedegrass pollen, the bees also kept an eye on nearby flowers, often seeking out grass near flowering plants.
Bumblebees were among the most flexible when it came to sourcing their pollen. They foraged in ivy, crape myrtles and vegetable gardens, among other places. "Bees are dependent on all kinds of flower or plant types—pollen for protein and nectar for sugar to help them keep flying," Joseph said.
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