Testing the efficacy of artificial flowers as a novel attractant for automated pollinator monitoring

Insect camera traps are a rapidly developing technology for automated insect monitoring. However, little has been reported on improving the attractants used for daytime flying insects on such cameras. This study compares the attractiveness of 3D-printed artificial flowers with traditional attractants (pan traps and coloured paper squares). We hypothesised that artificial flowers would attract higher insect abundance and diversity by more accurately mimicking flowers, and additionally examined colour preference and landing duration. Artificial flowers, dry pan traps and paper squares, painted in UV-induced fluorescent yellow, white, or blue paint, were filmed simultaneously to observe wild insect behavioural responses (landings and approaches). The results indicate an overall preference for artificial flowers over traditional attractants, and colour preferences for blue and yellow. Analysed by group, hoverflies preferred landing on artificial flowers over the other attractants. Bumblebees preferred approaching artificial flowers, and 'small insects' preferred landing and approaching artificial flowers over the other attractants. 'Other flies' preferred landing on pan traps and paper over artificial flowers. Hoverflies, 'small insects', wasps, and 'solitary bees' responded more to yellow than the other colours, while bumblebees responded more to blue. Analysis of landing probability broadly mirrored these attractant preferences. Landing duration showed limited effects across groups, though 'small insects' spent longer on artificial flowers and pan traps than paper, and hoverflies spent longer on yellow than the other colours. These results suggest artificial flowers could offer an efficient attractant for insect camera traps as they attracted higher abundances of key pollinating insects (hoverflies and bumblebees) without reducing attraction rates for other insect groups (excluding 'other flies').