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Villages can provide important habitats for insects. A new study by the University of Würzburg shows which areas in rural settlements are particularly rich in species – and where there is still room for improvement.
When it comes to research on habitats for pollinating insects, villages have so far received relatively little attention. The project “Summende Dörfer” (Buzzing Villages), based at the Chair of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III) at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), aims to change that.
In the Würzburg region and the Rhön, researchers examined a total of 40 villages to investigate which habitats within village environments are particularly insect-friendly and species-rich – and where improvements could be made. The results have now been published in the journal Ecological Applications.
Five habitat types defined
Within village environments, the researchers defined five habitat types: green spaces, fallow land, cemeteries, and both residential and farm gardens – that is, gardens where vegetables are grown alongside ornamental plants.
“What is particularly surprising is the remarkable diversity of wild bees that could be recorded in village habitats. First impressions can be misleading; the areas with the most colourful blooms are not necessarily those with the greatest species diversity,” says project coordinator Dr Fabienne Maihoff.
Although cemeteries had the highest abundance of flowers on average, pollinators often found better living conditions in green spaces and on fallow land.
Not every flower appeals
Cemeteries are strongly influenced by human management. Lawns are frequently mown and plants are often selected primarily for aesthetic reasons – yet not everything that flowers beautifully is insect-friendly.
“Cultivated roses of the genus Rosa with double blossoms, as well as lilac (Syringa) and heather (Erica), may look attractive but are not appealing to bees and hoverflies,” explains Maihoff. In addition, heavily managed areas often lack suitable nesting sites for insects.
Conditions are often different in green spaces – such as small parks or playgrounds – and on fallow land, for example undeveloped building plots. Provided that vegetation is allowed to grow and is not prevented from flowering by frequent mowing, these areas can offer valuable resources. Bare ground and near-natural hedges provide nesting opportunities, while the plants themselves are also attractive to insects.
“Native wildflowers such as species of Knautia (scabious) or Cirsium (thistles) can thrive here. These are particularly valuable for pollinators.”
However, some non-native ornamental plants can also be popular sources of nectar, including species of Cuphea and Sanvitalia. “In such cases, it is important to observe how these plants integrate into the ecosystem overall, for example whether they displace important native species,” Maihoff adds.
In addition to habitats within villages, connectivity with nearby semi-natural areas also plays a key role. These can serve as important source habitats, particularly for solitary wild bees. Conversely, bumblebees in intensified agricultural landscapes often depend on the food resources available in villages.
Tips for gardeners
Cemeteries therefore offer considerable potential as habitats. But people can also contribute to biodiversity in their own gardens. As part of the project, the researchers work closely with residents. Participants receive practical advice on pollinator-friendly planting, for example based on the findings of the current study.
The results show that with appropriate ecological management and pollinator-friendly plants, even small areas can provide habitat for a wide variety of insects. The findings also suggest that differences between habitats indirectly reflect the availability of nesting sites, which are particularly important for maintaining regional pollinator diversity.
Conversely, even a large garden can become a virtual desert if it is not managed appropriately. And not everything that is commonly considered attractive in a garden is ecologically valuable: plants often regarded as weeds, such as thistles, can be far more beneficial to pollinators than many popular ornamental species.
In the current phase of the project, the researchers are also examining how temporal and spatial changes in the management of villages and their surroundings – such as mowing schedules or connecting elements between natural areas – affect species numbers and community composition.
Further information
The project “Wild Bees in Villages” has been running since 2020. The second project phase, titled “Buzzing Villages”, began in 2023 and is scheduled to run until 2027. The project is supported by the Biodiversitätszentrum Rhön and the Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt.
Dr. Fabienne Maihoff, University of Würzburg, Chair of Zoology III (Animal Ecology), Email: dorfbienen@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de
Sonja Schulze, Fabienne Maihoff, Jie Zhang, Daniela Kessner-Beierlein, Alicia Bender, Annika Schöninger, Andrea Holzschuh, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter: “More than flowers: Habitat type, floral resources, and landscape context shape pollinator communities in villages”, Ecological Applications, 24 February 2026. DOI: 10.1002/eap.70190
https://www.dorfbienen.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/ Project website
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