What colors attract bees and wasps?

What colors attract bees and wasps?

Bees and wasps are attracted to bright, colorful flowers when looking for nectar and pollen. However, not all colors attract them equally. Understanding which colors bees and wasps are most attracted to can help gardeners design flower beds and landscapes to either draw in more pollinators or deter unwanted pests.

Colors That Attract Bees

Research has shown that bees have color preferences when visiting flowers. Their color vision is very different from humans and they cannot see the color red. Bees are particularly attracted to blue, purple, violet, and yellow flowers.

Color	Wavelength Range
Blue	430-480 nm
Violet	380-430 nm
Purple	380-450 nm
Yellow	500-600 nm

These colors stand out strongly to bees and marking flowers they should visit. Bees cannot distinguish between blue, violet, and purple colors the way humans do. They see all these flowers in the same color spectrum.

Some of the best flowers to attract bees based on their color include:

– Lavender
– Catmint
– Hyssop
– Purple coneflower
– Allium
– California lilac
– Butterfly bush
– Baptisia
– Russian sage
– Coreopsis
– Sunflowers
– Black-eyed Susans
– Zinnias
– Calendulas
– Cosmos
– Marigolds
– Dahlias
– Asters

Planting a variety of flowers in these shades will draw in bees to pollinate. Be sure to include flowers that will bloom continuously from spring through fall to provide bees with a constant nectar source.

Colors That Attract Wasps

Wasps have color vision similar to bees and are attracted to the same colors in the blue, violet, purple, and yellow wavelength ranges. However, wasps seem to have a stronger preference for yellow flowers specifically.

Some flowers that are magnets for unwelcome wasps due to their bright yellow colors include:

– Daisies
– Dandelions
– Goldenrod
– Daffodils
– Sunflowers
– Zinnias
– Marigolds
– Cosmos
– Dahlias
– Coreopsis
– Roses
– Buttercups
– Dwarf pomegranate
– Spirea
– Russian sage
– Rhododendrons
– Butterfly bush
– Hydrangeas

If you want to deter wasps from your yard, avoiding large plantings of these yellow-flowering plants is a good idea. However, to support bees do include at least some yellow options along with blue, violet, and purple flowers.

Other Factors That Attract Bees and Wasps

While flower color is very important, there are some other factors that can influence bee and wasp attraction as well:

Flower Shape

– Bees are drawn to tubular and bell shaped flowers where it is easy for them to access nectar. Flowers with single, open petals like daisies are also favorites.

– Wasps prefer simpler, open flowers with exposed pollen that they can easily eat.

Flower Scent

– Bees rely heavily on scent to find flowers. Choosing fragrant flowering plants will help attract them.

– Wasps are also attracted to the scent of certain flowers. Fragrant yellow blooms will draw them in.

Nectar and Pollen Quality

– Flowers that produce abundant, high-quality nectar and pollen will attract more bees. They seek out nutrition-rich food sources.

– Wasps look for flowers with easily accessible pollen to collect. Open, exposed blooms allow them to gather pollen without effort.

Native Plants

– Native flowering plants have co-evolved with native bee species and provide the nutrition they need. Incorporate native flowers suited to your region to attract more native bees.

– Native plants may also attract non-aggressive native wasp species that help control pests. But they can also draw in aggressive, invasive wasps.

Seasonal Blooms

– Ensure something is flowering from early spring through late fall so bees and wasps have constant food through the seasons.

– Plant spring bloomers like tulips, hyacinths, crocuses to feed emerging queen wasps and bees. They rely heavily on early flowers.

Flower Availability

– Plant flowers in dense drifts and clusters. Bees and wasps are drawn to large patches of color versus singular blooms.

– Include multiple plants of the same variety to create abundant foraging opportunities.

By considering all these factors – not just flower color – you can design a garden that meets your goals whether they are attracting pollinators or deterring wasps. Use bee-attracting flowers in pollinator gardens and avoid wasp-magnet yellows if you want to create an outdoor space with minimal wasp issues.

Time of Day

Bees and wasps are most active and feeding on flowers during the daytime hours. Their foraging activity peaks at different times:

Bees

– Honeybees forage most actively in the morning hours between 7-10 am when nectar flow is highest.

– Bumble bees often prefer foraging in the later morning and early afternoon.

– Solitary bees may be active throughout the day depending on the species.

Wasps

– Social wasps like yellowjackets are most active midday when temperatures reach their peak.

– They tend to forage in the warmest part of the day between 11 am to 4 pm.

– Solitary wasps forage at variable times depending on species. Many are early morning foragers.

Avoid planting wasp-attracting flowers in areas meant for relaxing or entertaining if possible. The busier midday wasp foraging times coincide with when people are likely be using yards and patios. Focus bee-friendly flowers in these spaces instead.

Seasonality

Both bees and wasps are most active during summer and early fall when food sources are plentiful. However, their seasonal cycles differ:

Bees

– Honey bees can forage year-round in warmer climates where flowering plants are available.

– In cooler climates, honey bee foraging is limited to March/April through September/October depending on first and last frost dates.

– Bumble bee colonies die out in late fall except for fertilized queens that overwinter. They re-emerge in early spring.

– Solitary bees have short spring to fall activity periods as individual insects. Eggs laid in one season overwinter and hatch the following spring.

Wasps

– Social wasp colonies in temperate climates are only active from approximately mid-spring through early fall.

– In fall, imminent freezing temperatures cause the colonies to die out except fertilized queens that overwinter.

– The queens emerge in spring to build new nests and repeat the annual colony cycle.

– Solitary wasps have variable activity periods in warm months with individual lifespans lasting weeks up to several months.

Cold winter temperatures limit bee and wasp foraging opportunities. Having late fall and very early spring blooms provides essential food sources when colonies are rebuilding or new solitary insects are emerging.

Regional Differences

The exact bee and wasp species that visit flower gardens will vary by region. Some general trends include:

Bees

– Native squash bees forage on cucurbit plants and are common crop pollinators in the Midwest and Eastern US.

– Blue orchard bees are important orchard pollinators in Western mountain states like California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

– Rusty patched bumble bees once thrived in grasslands and prairies in the Upper Midwest and Northeast but are now endangered.

– Southern plains bumble bee populations are declining in the Southern US plains.

– Florida greeneyes bees inhabit sandy scrub areas in Florida and are active March-September.

Wasps

– Western yellowjackets are common in western states.

– Southern yellowjackets occupy the Southeastern US.

– Northern paper wasps live in Northeastern, Midwestern and Western states as well as Southern Canada.

– Red paper wasps frequent Gulf Coast states.

– Potter wasps populate mountain states and build clay nests on cliffs and rock walls.

– Cicada killer wasps emerge when cicadas are active in Midwestern, Eastern and Southeastern states.

Talk to local garden clubs or native plant societies to learn more about bee and wasp species in your specific area. This will help inform the best flower choices to help support beneficial native bees or discourage invasive wasps near your home.

Conclusion

In summary, several key factors influence which flowers attract bees versus wasps:

– Color – Bees and wasps see the same color spectrum. They are attracted to violet, purple, blue and yellow blooms which stand out against green foliage. Wasps show a stronger preference for yellow.

– Shape – Bees favor tubular and bell shaped flowers. Wasps like simple, open blooms.

– Scent – Fragrant flowers draw in both bees and wasps who use aroma to locate food sources.

– Nectar and Pollen – Abundant, nutrient-rich nectar and easily accessible pollen appeals most to bees and wasps.

– Native Plants – Local native flowers support native bees but can also attract invasive wasps.

– Bloom Season – Spring and fall blooms provide vital food for overwintering and emerging insects.

– Flower Availability – Large drifts and clusters of the same flowers attract more foragers.

– Time of Day – Bees forage mostly mornings, wasps peak midday when temperatures are warmest.

– Seasonality – Bees and wasps feed on flowers during warm months but have differing active periods.

– Region – Native bee and wasp species vary by location.

With some planning, you can design a flower garden that provides an abundant nectar buffet for pollinators while minimizing unwelcome wasp visitors.