What is the typical effect of fiber collection on ornamental plants like lamb's ears?

Gardeners might notice these fuzzy plants looking slightly tattered or picked over due to the superficial removal of fine, woolly hairs.

The necessity for females to gather fine, woolly plant fibers for nest construction directly impacts the appearance of their preferred donor plants, such as lamb's ears (*Stachys byzantina*) or sage. When the female engages in the 'carding' behavior—scraping and pulling the fluff—she inevitably causes minor physical disturbance to the leaf surface. This results in the appearance of the plant looking somewhat tattered or picked over in localized areas. Crucially, this resulting damage is typically superficial; it does not compromise the plant's overall long-term health or survival, serving instead as a visible marker that the bee is actively engaged in preparing a nursery nearby.