Power Right-Of-Ways
Often maligned as ugly and fragmenting, power line corridors and other right-of-ways can support exceptionally high bee diversity, including a number of rare specialists. The specifics of the vegetation management have significant consequences for the plant and associated bee communities. Invasive plants can quickly overrun these sites and choke out native plants and the associated specialist bees, although some generalist bees do forage on introduced plants. The following shrubs and forbs are often found along ROWs and support rare and/or specialist bees: Willows (genus Salix), Dogwoods (genus Swida), Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina), Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium), Brambles (Rubus), Blueberries (Vaccinium),
and Loosestrifes (Lysimachia). Learn more here here.
