Cucurbita

No bees, no pumpkins

by Zsófia Varga-SzilayEcology, PollinatorsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Did you know that pumpkins, as an entomophilous crop, rely on insect pollination and are typically pollinated by a variety of bee species? All cultivated pumpkins (Cucurbita pecies) have separate male and female ( = unisexual) flowers, requiring pollinators to transfer pollen for fruit set. Pumpkin flowers provide abundant pollen and nectar resources to attract …

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Domestic gardens for high diversity

Domestic gardens for conservation

by Zsófia Varga-SzilayResearch projectsPosted on Comments are Disabled

A survey on the gardens’ potential and the owners’ attitudes toward supporting high biodiversity in nine European countries Background In times of global biodiversity loss, urban green areas, like domestic gardens and allotments, play increasingly important role in supporting insects. These gardens can be biodiversity hotspots or act as stepping stones for wildlife in a …

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