Giant Ragweed

The flowers depend on wind pollination, therefore they attract few insects. However, Apis mellifera (Honey Bee) has been observed gathering the pollen. The caterpillars of several moths feed on the foliage and other parts of Giant Ragweed. Because of their hard coat, the seeds of Giant Ragweed are less attractive to birds than the seeds of Common Ragweed. A few upland gamebirds eat the seeds to a limited extent, including the Greater Prairie Chicken. Cattle like to browse on the foliage of Giant Ragweed, and to a lesser extent it is also browsed by White-tailed Deer. Because of the poor digestibility of the seeds, it is possible that they are distributed by these birds and mammals.