The network

Our results here, together with the larger dataset covering all sites, provides us with an opportunity to speculate about pollinator ecology in the sites where we sampled. A few observations for Greenview:

• Several taxa that many would name as important pollinators were non-factors.
• We collected only 2 honeybees, on gray dogwood. Honeybee scarcity probably owes to a couple of factors. One, in relatively cool weather, honeybees are less likely to be foraging (compared to mining bees, early season specialists). Two, honeybee colony sizes haven't yet reached large numbers in April/May. There is no doubt that honeybees are hyper-abundant later in the season.
• Bumblebees were absent, likely for the same reasons that explain honeybee scarcity.
• We saw just one butterfly, a pearl crescent on golden alexander.
• Bees were the most prominent pollinators.
• Mining bees were the most abundant bees, as well as representing most of the bee diversity (13 species).
• We did not detect the specialist spring beauty mining bee.
• Golden alexander was interesting. It had the most visiting species overall. It was THE key forage resource for masked bees, and for wasps.
• Non-native plants matter. Though more evident at other sites, at Greenview we saw plenty of visitation, and diversity on Apple/pear and dandelion (the only host for a native lady beetle species).

... What else do you see? What questions do these data raise?

A few notable species seen at this site

A wasp parasite of Hylaeus (masked bees - see right). Wasps in general contribute little to pollination. But they benefit from the nectar flowers provide.

Above: Hylaeus, masked bee. One of the most abundant taxa in late May. Below: A mining bee species abundant on golden alexander. Still working on the species name.

Above: 14 spotted ladybeetle. Below: Bee-mimic beetle.

Pioneer Woods — Insect Species by Plant, 2026

David Cappaert, Update September 16, 2026