Determining the value of common turf forbs as insect pollinator resources in the Southeastern United States

Turf communities provide essential environmental, economic, and cultural benefits, and are an important component of many human-built environments. Turfgrass covers approximately 2% of the continental United States, making it an abundant potential resource for insect pollinators, which continue to experience declines at the hands of anthropogenic change that limits forage and nesting resources. Relatively little is known about wildflower and weed (i.e., “forb”) inclusion in low-maintenance turf in the Southeastern US and its potential to increase pollinator forage resources. We observed sites containing ten candidate forb species in Starkville, Mississippi, selected for their availability, abundance, and variations in phenology. Square-meter sites of each forb were replicated across two years and provided data on insect visitor diversity and abundance, as well as bloom seasonality across weekly five-minute observation and insect collection events. Provisional results suggest that forbs blooming in fall and winter provide resources to insect visitors during periods of decreased nutrient availability. White clover attracted the most insect visitors per observation, followed closely by lawn aster. The data further suggests that native insect pollinators exhibit a slight preference for native forb forage resources, and that their inclusion may better support native pollinator populations. Understanding how insect visitors interact with forbs in low-maintenance turf in the Southeastern US will provide key insights into how urban environments can support pollinator sustainability. Further, the development of seed mixes and cultivation techniques of forbs valuable to pollinators in the Southeastern US will make the establishment of pollinator-friendly landscapes more accessible to land managers.