the European tuble wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) on the corn marigold (Glebionis segetum)

An undisturbed flower patch

by Zsófia Varga-SzilayEcology, PollinatorsPosted on Comments are Disabled

On a wonderfully sunny morning in early May, looking for a suitable location for my PhD fieldwork, I discovered a flower patch near the ocean where the wonderful ‘triumvirate’ of Glebionis segetum, Silene uniflora, and Lotus creticus lured a wide range of pollinators. While recording the bumblebees foraging on the Lotus, I tried to ‘catch’ …

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A pink-headed persicaria

A pink-headed invasive plant

by Zsófia Varga-SzilayEcology, PollinatorsPosted on Comments are Disabled

The pink-headed persicaria (Persicaria capitata; its former scientific name was Polygonum capitatum) is native to Asia and is an invasive plant in the Azores archipelago and many other places worldwide. It spreads quickly and covers even barren rock surfaces in very large densities, thus displacing native species. However, its little, pinkish flowers attract a wide …

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