The structure and functioning of flower-visiting insect communities on hay meadows

Published source details Dicks L.V. (2002) The structure and functioning of flower-visiting insect communities on hay meadows. PhD thesis. University of Cambridge.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore species-rich grassland vegetation Action Link
	Restore/create species-rich, semi-natural grassland Action Link

Restore species-rich grassland vegetation

A study in eastern England of the pollinator community on a species-rich grassland restoration experiment compared to native grassland of the same plant community found a greater diversity of pollinating insects on the restored hay meadow site than on the ancient meadow (Dicks 2002). Six common species of bumblebee were recorded at both sites, and the most abundant insect visitor was a bumblebee on both meadows: white-tailed bumblebees Bombus terrestris/ lucorum at the restored site, red-tailed bumblebees B. lapidarius at the ancient meadow site. Seven and five species of solitary bee were recorded at restored and ancient sites respectively.
Restore/create species-rich, semi-natural grassland

A study in eastern England, UK of the pollinator community on a species-rich grassland restoration experiment compared to native grassland of the same plant community (Dicks 2002) found a greater diversity of pollinating insects on the restored hay meadow site than on the ancient meadow. Six common species of bumblebee Bombus spp. were recorded at both sites, and the most abundant insect visitor was a bumblebee on both meadows: white-tailed bumblebees Bombus terrestris/ lucorum at the restored site, red-tailed bumblebees B. lapidarius at the ancient meadow site. Seven and five species of solitary bee were recorded at restored and ancient sites respectively.