Observations were made in 1994 and 1995 in Hertfordshire of the
flowering
phenology and
attractiveness to beneficial insects of two commercial mixtures of flowering
plants intended for set-aside land. These were the Tübingen Mixture
from
Germany and Ascot Linde SN from the
Netherlands. The mixtures were visited by 14 species of Hymenoptera, 14
species
of syrphid Diptera
and six species of Lepidoptera. Although the mixtures contained 12 and
five
plant species respectively,
Phacelia tanacetifolia was the dominant species to establish,
flower
and attract insects in both
mixtures. The other plants contributed little to flower density or insect
diversity. These mixtures are
therefore not suitable for UK needs using the present proportions of
plant species.