Flower-Visiting Insects
of Aster
Aster spp. (Aster)
(Most asters in Illinois are now assigned to the Symphyotrichum genus. Bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen, butterflies and skippers suck nectar, while the activity of beetles is unspecified; observations are from Lisberg & Young, Smith et al., Grundel et al., Lovell, Voss, and Rightmyer as specified below)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fraternus (Smh), Bombus impatiens (Smh), Bombus pensylvanicus fq (Smh), Psithyrus variabilis sn (Smh); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina calcarata (Gnd), Ceratina dupla (Gnd), Ceratina mikmaqi (Gnd), Ceratina strenua (Gnd); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus spp. sn (Smh), Triepeolus helianthi sn (Rtm), Triepeolus laticaudus sn (Rtm); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes communis communis fq (Smh), Melissodes denticulata (Smh, Gnd), Melissodes trinodis sn fq (Smh), Melissodes wheeleri (Smh), Svastra aegis (Smh); Anthophoridae (Exomalopsini): Anthophorula asteris [syn. Exomalopsis asteris] (Smh); Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada spp. sn (Smh), Nomada vincta sn (Smh); Anthophoridae (Xylocopini): Xylocopa virginica (Smh); Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys germana sn (Smh); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile mendica (Smh); Megachilidae (Osmiini): Heriades variolosus (Gnd)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon virescens (Gnd), Augochlora pura (Gnd), Augochlorella aurata (Smh, Gnd), Augochloropsis metallica (Gnd), Lasioglossum pectorale (Gnd), Lasioglossum subviridatum (Gnd), Lasioglossum tegulare (Smh); Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus affinis (Smh), Hylaeus mesillae (Smh); Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena runcinatae (Gnd); Andrenidae (Panurginae): Pseudopanurgus solidaginis (Gnd)
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippus sn (V), Limenitis archippus sn (V), Limenitis arthemis astyanax sn (V), Nymphalis antiopa sn (V), Polygonia progne sn (V), Speyeria cybele sn (V), Vanessa atalanta sn (V), Vanessa virginiensis sn (V); Lycaenidae: Lycaena phlaeas americana sn (V); Pieridae: Colias eurytheme sn (V), Colias philodice sn (V), Pieris rapae sn (V)
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Hesperia comma laurentina sn (V)
Beetles
Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Lv2); Coccinellidae: Coleomegilla maculata (Lv2); Curculionidae: Centrinaspis picumna (Lv2); Meloidae: Epicauta pennsylvanica (Lv2); Mordellidae: Mordellistena suturella (LY)