18 / SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2017 PROTECTINGPOLLINATORS ThisseriesissponsoredbyOperationPollinator, aSyngentaglobalinitiative. WITH EFFORTS TO support pol- linator habitats on the rise, it’s impor- tant to consider that there is more to the solution than simply tossing some wild- flower seed into fence rows and roadside ditches. During the past several years, thou- sands of acres of habitats have been planted, which means more potential health and nutritional benefits for pollina- tors, such honeybees, native bees and butterflies. But the process of choosing seeds that suit specific projects often takes more science than meets the eye. “Not all flowers are even attrac- tive to pollinators,” says Diane Wilson, a Colorado-based ecologist with Applewood Seed Company. “When look- ing at the whole realm of garden and wildflowers, there is only a certain set that is attractive, and a smaller set that is considered highly attractive. We need to be sure we’re choosing flowers that are in that category for these projects.” Wilson says just because something is available doesn’t mean that it is suitable for your project. There are also farm factors to consider as well, including what plants work well with field crops. “You certainly aren’t going to want to plant something that’s invasive. A mix that’s been designed to thrive in difficult conditions such as a roadside is likely to take over a well-prepared, fertile field,” Wilson says. Liz Hunt, a Syngenta sustainable solu- tions lead with previous experience in the Syngenta Flowers business, says the goal is a healthy balance. “At the end of the day, with the research that’s been done, we want to be able to provide quality seed and valuable resources for farmers and collaborators,” Hunt says. “We want to make sure there is a positive environmental benefit and that it still works alongside commercial farming.” Pollinator Preferences Research has proven that specific pollina- tors are best matched with specific types of flowers based partly on preferences we don’t fully understand, such as color, but largely based on physical characteristics. “Tongue sizes, body sizes and other body features are very important. One example is the leaf cutter bee,” Wilson says. “The females have a pollen brush on the Why choosing pollinator plot plants isn’t as simple as you thought. Melissa Shipman FLOWERPOWER underside of their abdomen, and they are matched well with flowers that have the stamens on the lower side of the flower because it brushes right across that lower abdomen area.” About 80 percent of native bees are considered general foragers, and 20 per- cent are specialist foragers, which means they only forage from a group of closely related species or sometimes just a single plant species. “For example, little sweat bees have short tongues and tend to like flowers in the aster family, with disc-shaped flowers and short nectar access. They can’t go Sweat bees have a short tongue and prefer short access to nectar like this Tidy Tips flower.