Dotted Horsemint Attracts More than Pollinators

by | Aug 29, 2018 | Beneficials, General Gardening, Insects, Native plants, Ornamental Shrubs, Perennials, Pollinators, Uncategorized

In 2016, I wrote an article for Gardening in the Panhandle called “Attract Pollinators with Dotted Horsemint” introducing readers to this tough native plant that supports native pollinators. If you have flowers in your garden, you probably have pollinators and a whole lot of other insects but if you want a plant that lets you observe a really diverse palate of bugs dotted horsemint Monarda punctata.

When I find I have some downtime at home I have a habit of wandering the yard looking for interesting insects. Admittedly, I usually have my phone in hand hoping to get a great photo or video of my arthropod visitors, but it is a productive task, too. As strange as it may sound, I can count this hobby as part of my integrated pest management landscape maintenance strategy – scouting!

My favorite plant to visit on my scouting run is normally not afflicted with pests, but it hosts so many different insects it always gets a stop on my rounds. When dotted horsemint is in full flower it is visited by a lot more than pollinators. I’ve recorded daily visits from assassin bugs, ants, beetles, flies, dragonflies, spiders, thread-waisted wasps, honey bees, butterflies, and moths.

Here’s a photo album of frequent visitors to my dotted horsemint from this summer – enjoy!

  • Ant on dotted horsemint. J_McConnell

  • Assassin bug on dotted horsemint. J_McConnell

  • Fly on dotted horsemint. J_McConnell

  • Syrphid fly and green spider (legs only) on dotted horsemint. J_McConnell

  • Katydid nymph on dotted horsemint

  • Lovebugs on dotted horsemint. J_McConnell

  • Long legged fly on dotted horsemint. J_McConnell

  • Dotted horsemint in full bloom. J_McConnell

  • Dotted horsemint flower. J_McConnell

Julie McConnell
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