Functionality of selected aromatic Lamiaceae in attracting pollinators in central Spain

Published source details Barbir J., Azpiazu C., Badenes-Pérez F.R., Fernández-Quintanilla C. & Dorado J. (2016) Functionality of selected aromatic Lamiaceae in attracting pollinators in central Spain. Journal of Economic Entomology, 109, 529-536.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Pollination: Plant flowers Action Link

Pollination: Plant flowers

A replicated, randomized study in 2012–2013 in a barley field near Madrid, Spain, found different numbers of pollinators on different species and mixtures of planted flowers. Implementation options: The highest number of pollinators were found on Nepeta tuberosa in 2011 (0.95 visits/minute) and the lowest number were found on Salvia verbenaca in 2011 (0 visits/minute). More pollinators were found in some plots with one flower species (N. tuberosa: 0.85–0.95 visits/minute; Hyssopus officinalis: 0.65–0.75) than in plots with six flower species (0.20–0.30 visits/minute), in both years (2012–2013). However, most of the other one-species plots were no different than the six-species plots (0.15–0.40 visits/minute). Methods: For each treatment (6 one-species and 2 six-species plantings), there were three plots (2.4 x 2.4 m), which were planted with three-month-old Lamiaceae seedlings in February 2011. Pollinators were counted (nine minutes/plot, once/week) only if they touched the reproductive parts of flowers.