Optimizing plant resource selection to support managed and wild bees requires knowledge of taxa-specific bee responses to plant resource availability, and the plant traits that influence these relationships. The primary objectives of this work were to 1) determine the relative attractiveness of 54 drought-tolerant flowering plant species found in Michigan to honey bees, bumblebees, and non-Bombus wild bees in three distinct regions of west Michigan, and 2) determine the flower traits that best predict increased patterns of pollinator visitation to these plants. A common garden experiment utilizing single species plantings of wildflowers was replicated at three sites in Michigan, and data collection included both pollinator visitors and flower traits. Plant species varied in their relative attractiveness to pollinators. Honey bees and bumblebees showed more overlap in plant attraction. Floral area was the most consistent flower trait predicting the abundances of wild bees and hoverflies, as well as wild bee species richness, but was not a significant predictor of honey bee or bumblebee visitation to plant species. Other flower traits had taxa-specific relationships with the pollinator community. The results of this work inform the development of future plant lists for establishing pollinator habitat enhancements in the Great Lakes Region of the United States, and reveal that patterns of pollinator visitation to plants can be predicted by flower traits.
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