Welcome to the project Pollinators in the Mediterranean and Europe

Wild Bees and the flowers they visit are the focus of this project, but other insect pollinator records are also welcome additions.
The geographic scope is focused on the Mediterranean, but records from all over Europe can also be added. Wild flowers visited by pollinators can be native or exotic species.
Flowers can have a long life span, but only for a limited amount of time they have a functional life span. It is important to note when the flower is truly receptive for pollination. Flowers can be visited for many reasons. For example insects just perch on flowers or use them as lookout posts. This can also be on flowers that are already developing seeds and are not receptive anymore to pollination.

Recording the flowering (receptive to pollination) plant species the pollinator was visiting is the main requirement for this project. The taxon rank is preferably species. Otherwise recommended is using a taxon rank at the family level or lower (usually family, subfamily, tribe or genus).
Adding a plant taxon to your observation can be done in several ways, preferably fill in the following fields or at least one of them:

• Interaction->Visited flower of:
• Associated species with names lookup:

Other similar fields that are available are:

• pollinates:
• interacts with:
• Name of Associated Plant:
• What plant is being pollinated?
• Visiting a flower of: (Interaction):
• Nectar Plant:

... and a few more.

Usually you will first add photos and identifications by using the button 'upload'. After you have uploaded photos you will see at the right side of each observation page additional information. Under Annotations you can see Projects -> in the field 'Add to a Project', start typing Pollinators in the Mediterranean and select the project. Now you can add the data to the fields described above.
In the Mediterranean and Europe pollinators are almost exclusively insects (class Insecta). The additional observation fields are attuned to this group. For consistency of the data only taxa belonging to the 6 main flower visiting insect orders can be added.

Pollination and pollinators are vitally important and nature is rapidly changing. We can all help and have a positive impact by better documenting one of the most important ecosystem services.
Pollinators are all around us, by observing and documenting them nearby our homes, everyone can support conservation research. In the meantime it is fun to be outdoors and connect with nature.

The Mediterranean Region is one of the biodiversity hotspots, especially for pollinator groups like bees.

If you like this project, you probably also like the following projects:

global projects:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pollinator-associations (establishing associations between nectar and pollen producing plants and the essential wildlife that facilitate floral reproduction)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/flower-visiting-wasps-of-the-world (collectes data on flower visiting wasps and the plants they visit)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/flower-visiting-birds (a collection of observations of birds visiting flowers to consume nectar)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/global-pollinator-watch (collects data on the pollinators in backyards, in pockets of nature, in nearby parks, etc...)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bees-robbing-nectar (collects data on nectar robbing by bees)

regional projects:

https://life4pollinators.eu/ (improve pollinator conservation by creating a virtuous circle leading to a progressive change in practices across the Mediterranean region)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/impollinatori-dell-alta-e-media-valle-dell-agno (project recording pollinators in Valdagno, Cornedo Vicentino and Recoaro Terme in Italy)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-pollination-project (recording pollinators and flower visitations in California)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/wild-pollinator-count (wild pollinator insects in Australia)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/io-database (new database for DNA barcodes, occurrences, behavioural and ecological traits of European butterflies)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/calgary-pollinators (Calgary Pollinators)

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/indian-bee-flower-interactions (recording flower visitations in India) less ↑