Can sown wildflowers compensate for cities’ lack of natural meadows to support pollinating insects?

In a study published in Ecological Entomology, a journal from the Royal Entomological Society, researchers assessed whether a shortage of natural meadows in urban spaces for pollinating insects might be addressed by creating meadows where wildflowers are planted or sown among grasses.

The research, which was conducted in Warsaw, Poland, showed no difference in the composition of insect-pollinated plants between these two meadow types. There was also no difference between the meadow types concerning the species richness of butterflies, bees, and hoverflies. The number of butterflies was twice as high in natural meadows than it was in sown floral meadows, however. No such differences were found for wild bees and hoverflies.

“The proper management of urban greenery involves combining the well-being of city residents and the protection of habitats. In this way, we can alleviate the hostile environment of urban space for wildlife,” the authors wrote. “Our research has shown that sowing flower meadows may be such a method.”

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/een.13396

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About the Journal
Ecological Entomology is a leading journal focusing on original research concerning insects and related invertebrates' ecology. Aimed at ecologists driven by ecological or evolutionary theory, we prioritize innovative contributions testing specific hypotheses. Our journal publishes full-length Original Articles, Reviews, Short Communications, and Methods papers, all intended to advance the field of ecological entomology.

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