Weeds of Wednesday: Where Have All the Bidens Gone?

Usually, common beggarticks (Bidens alba) is abundant — along roadsides, mosquito control dikes, and in other disturbed places. Not so much this year, though. Perhaps, the lack of rainfall this year explains its relative absence.

Common beggarticks are an annual or short-lived perennial plant that some people characterize as an aggressive weed, while other folks esteem it as a very successful wildflower. However you characterize this plant, it is beloved by pollinators of all sorts from southern carpenter bees (Xylocopa micans) to julia butterflies (Dryas iulia) …

Hopefully, the regular rains of summer will return soon and summon forth bevies of beggarticks from the (weed) seed bank and lots of pollinators!