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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424300
Research Project: Genetic Improvement and Management of Warm-Season Forage, Feedstocks, Syrup, and Turf Grasses

Location: Crop Genetics and Breeding Research

Title: Higher apoidea activity on centipedegrass lawns than on dicotyledonous plants

Author
item IBIYEMI, DANIEL - University Of Georgia
item Harris-Shultz, Karen
item JESPERSEN, DAVID - University Of Georgia
item SHIMAT, JOSEPH - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2025
Publication Date: 11/27/2025
Citation: Ibiyemi, D., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Jespersen, D., Shimat, J.V. 2025. Higher apoidea activity on centipedegrass lawns than on dicotyledonous plants. Florida Entomologist. 108(1):20250033. https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0033.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0033

Interpretive Summary: Centipedegrass is a warm-season turfgrass that attracts bees. We sought to determine if bees will still collect pollen from centipedegrass flowers even if flowering dicot plants such as butterfly bush, coneflower, goldenrod, and lavender are available. Four lawn sites were examined in Georgia over a 2 year period and more bees visited centipedegrass than the flowering dicot plants. Additionally we found that Bombus impatiens, Apis mellifera, Lassioglossum spp., and Melissodes bimaculatus collected centipedegrass pollen while Halictus ligatus and Lasioglossum foraged on dicot flowers. These results show that a lawn attracted a greater number of bees than six 3 gallon pots of flowering dicots. To aid in pollinator populations, homeowners can manage centipedegrass for maximum flower production and grow flowering dicot plants.

Technical Abstract: The role of pollen from wind-pollinated plants as a food source for pollinators is often overlooked. Bees were observed foraging pollen in lawns from centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides [Munro] Hack.; Poaceae). However, it remains unclear whether bees also forage on the flowers of dicotyledonous plants when centipedegrass lawns are in full bloom. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the foraging behavior of bees when both flowering centipedegrass and dicotyledonous plants are available simultaneously. In 2023, containers of flowering goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.; Asteraceae), butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii Franch.; Scrophulariaceae), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.; Lamiaceae) were placed on flowering centipedegrass lawns that were producing pollen. Observations revealed that foraging bees visited only the centipedegrass spikes and did not visit the flowers of dicotyledonous plants. In 2024, containers of butterfly bush and coneflower (Echinacea purpurea [L.] Moench; Asteraceae) were positioned on centipedegrass 1–3 d after mowing. Twelve days post-mowing, foraging bees were collected from both centipedegrass spikes and dicotyledonous plant flowers. Results indicated that a significantly greater number of bees were collected from centipedegrass spikes compared to the flowers of dicotyledonous plants. The bee species collected from centipedegrass were Bombus impatiens Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Melissodes bimaculatus Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and Lasioglossum spp., (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), whereas only Halictus ligatus Say (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) and Lasioglossum were found on dicotyledonous plants. This suggests that flowering centipedegrass is a valuable resource for foraging bees, even when the flowers of dicotyledonous plants are also accessible.