[APWG] Looking at invasives from a pollinator perspective!

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Invasive Plants and Pollinator Interactions
by Diane L. Larson

Walking through a North Dakota mixed-grass prairie on a sunny June
morning reveals an abundance of blooming forbs and the busy insects that 
rely
on the floral rewards. Native plants are not the only ones offering pollen 
and
nectar, however. Invasive plants, which often occur in monotypic stands 
(stands
of a single species), can provide a dense source of sustenance for insects 
that rely
on floral resources. To a human observer, a stand of the invasive forb 
leafy spurge
(Euphorbia esula) can seem alive with the buzzing of flies and bees, all 
attracted
by the pollen-laden anthers and sweet drops of nectar that glisten in the 
sun.

Full story:
Pp. 46-49 of the latest edition of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's Endangered Species Bulletin posted at:

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/bulletin/2008/bulletin_fall2008.pdf
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