Overview

• Freie Universität Berlin scientists found 55 ground-nesting Hymenoptera species living in sidewalk gaps across the city.
• The survey documented 28 wild bee species and 22 wasp species, with bee wolves particularly active during June.
• Nesting density was tied to the quality of nearby flowering areas and insect-friendly gardens rather than sheer green space size.
• Sidewalks overgrown with wild plants and moss provide additional nesting sites for pollinators and beneficial wasps.
• Conservationists urge municipalities and residents to protect these microhabitats by leaving gaps intact and reducing pesticide use.