Buzzin' Underfoot: Paving Stones as Insect Haven in Urban Jungle
Fissures appear in cobblestone, revealing thriving squalor of precious insect colonies. - Scientific animal protection draft consulted by the Commission.
Got a squint in your step? It might be a tiny bee or wasp dwelling beneath the paving stones, creating their little nesting oasis in the concrete jungle. The German Wildlife Foundation assures that these cement cracks offer vital living space for ground-dwelling insects amidst the city's heart.
Biologist Sophie Lokatis from the foundation explained, "Sometimes, several wild bee species nest at one location, and various digger and mason wasps join the party as the summer rolls by." You can spot the bee wolf right now in June, a digger wasp family member, by its characteristic elliptical excavation mounds. Early spring bees and red-tailed sand bees also make use of these crevices.
Berlin's Sidewalk Secrets
Lokatis led a study at the Free University of Berlin, where Berlin's sidewalks were investigated. In 2024, the scientific team, led by main author Claudia Weber, discovered an astonishing 55 ground-nesting species of strepsipterans, including 28 wild bees and 22 wasps. Diversity of nearby green spaces, whether species-rich flower beds or insect-friendly gardens with a variety of plants, plays a significant role in fostering a dense insect population in the paving gaps. Wild vegetation and moss on walkways can also boost insect diversity.
Keep those gaps unsealed
Many people might miss the subtle signs of insect life underfoot, with some even resorting to sprinkling poison on the sidewalks or filling the cracks with cement. Lokatis warns, "When it comes to the little critters living beneath our feet, let's be careful to keep the gaps unsealed."
- Insect Habitat
- Berlin
- Paving stone
- Urban Garden Wildlife
While the current sources don't specify the unique ecological importance of paving stone cracks in Berlin, research in urban ecology shows that such spaces serve as valuable microhabitats for a wide range of insects. These critical crevices offer:
- Shelter and Nesting Sites: Many ground-nesting bees and wasps use these gaps for egg-laying, larval protection, and wintering.
- Protection from Predators and Harsh Conditions: The compact spaces help shield insects from predators, harsh weather, and disturbances by passersby.
- Support for Urban Biodiversity: Availability of nesting sites in urban landscapes aids the survival and reproduction of wild pollinators, essential for ecosystem health and plant pollination in cities.
- The paving stone cracks in Berlin's urban landscape act as crucial microhabitats, providing shelter and nesting sites for diverse ground-nesting bees and wasps.
- By leaving paving stone crevices unsealed, we support the development of urban biodiversity, enabling wild pollinators to thrive, thereby ensuring a healthy ecosystem and efficient plant pollination within cities.
