Pollinators and other beneficial insects that favas attract

---

The fragrant and stunningly beautiful flowers of the fava bean plant bloom from a period of weeks to a month or more, providing pollinators like bumble bees (Bombus spp.), European honeybees (Apis mellifera), and other species of native bees with nectar for a relatively long period of time. 

Favas also have extra floral nectaries (see photo) that provide additional food to a number of pollinators and beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and predatory mites, ants, ladybug beetles and mites. Fava's extra-floral nectaries helps these tiny critters  survive during the winter, allowing them to feed on pests the following spring.