Field observations and interaction data for Salvia yangii and Anthidium bees in human-modified habitats

It is becoming increasingly evident that anthropogenic environments have the capacity to provide a habitat for pollinator biodiversity. Different plant can contribute differently to the survival of bees. This is the case of Anthidium spp. which preferences are not only associated to nectar and pollen reward but also to the plant floral morphology and the presence of plant trichomes for nest building. For this reason the focus of this research was the capability of Salvia yangii (Russian sage) plant widely used in anthropogenic areas to attract carder bees and other Hymenoptera pollinators. This dataset documents field observations of S. yangii of pollinator visitation in Milan, Italy, and in rural gardens. In detail the study involved 4 sites (Figure 1): Parco City Life (CL) 45°28'38"N 9°09'22" , Piazza Leonardo da Vinci (PdV) 45°28'40"N 9°13'34"E, Biblioteca degli Alberi (BAM) 45°29'02"N 9°11'32"E, and Piazzale Udine (PU) 45°29'27"N 9°14'12"E (Figure 1), and one rural site (45°17′25.4″N 11°30′09″E. The dataset includes records of visitation rates, bee abundance, and plant traits relevant to both foraging and nesting. Observations across urban and rural environments indicate that S. yangii offers consistent floral and structural resources, making it a valuable species for supporting pollinators in anthropogenic landscapes.