Flower-Visiting Insects
and Birds
of Prairie
Milkweed
Asclepias sullivantii (Prairie Milkweed)
(insects & hummingbirds suck nectar; most observations are from Robertson, otherwise they are from Betz and Wilhelm & Rericha as indicated below)
With pollinia:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Bombini): Bombus auricomus, Bombus fraternus, Bombus griseocallis fq, Psithyrus variabilis; Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus bifasciatus, Epeolus minimus; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Florilegus condigna, Melissodes coreopsis; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile latimanus, Megachile petulans
Wasps
Sphecidae (Bembicinae): Bembix nubilipennis; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Prionyx thomae, Sceliphron caementaria; Ichneumonidae: Ichneumon ambulatorius
Flies
Stratiomyidae: Stratiomys meigenii; Conopidae: Physocephala tibialis, Zodion obliquefasciatum
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Speyeria cybele; Lycaenidae: Satyrium titus; Pieridae: Colias philodice; Papilionidae: Papilio polyxenes asterias
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Epargyreus clarus, Polites origenes
Without pollinia:
Birds
Trochilidae: Archilochus colubris
Bees (long-tongued)
Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys octodentata fq; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis, Megachile mendica, Megachile texana
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlora purus, Augochlorella striata, Augochloropsis metallica metallica, Lasioglossum imitatus, Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus, Lasioglossum tegularis, Lasioglossum versatus fq; Halictidae (Sphecodini): Sphecodes confertus fq, Sphecodes dichroa
Wasps
Sphecidae (Bembicinae): Bembix americana, Microbembix monodonta fq; Sphecidae (Crabroninae): Ectemnius rufifemur, Oxybelus emarginatus; Sphecidae (Larrinae): Lyroda subita, Tachytes aurulenta fq; Sphecidae (Philanthinae): Cerceris clypeata, Cerceris finitima, Philanthus gibbosus; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Prionyx atrata; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Euodynerus annulatus; Tiphiidae: Myzinum quinquecincta
Flies
Syrphidae: Tropidia quadrata; Tachinidae: Chaetogaedia analis, Linnaemya comta, Phasia purpurascens; Sarcophagidae: Helicobia rapax, Senotainia rubriventris, Sphixapata trilineata
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos, Vanessa atalanta; Lycaenidae: Everes comyntas, Lycaena hyllus, Strymon melinus
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Euphyes vestris, Polites themistocles, Thorybes pylades
Moths
Sphingidae: Hemaris diffinis; Sesiidae: Carmenta bassiformis
Beetles
Curculionidae: Odontocorynus scutellum-album fq
Plant Bugs
Miridae: Adelphocoris rapidus; Pentatomidae: Podisus maculiventris prd
Pollinia Presence Unspecified:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera (Btz) fq; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fervidus (Btz), Bombus pensylvanica (Btz)
Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Sphex ichneumonea (Btz)
Moths
Sphingidae: Hemaris diffinis (WR)
Found dead or entrapped on the flowers:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile addenda, Megachile brevis brevis, Megachile centuncularis, Megachile pugnatus
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Halictus confusus, Halictus ligatus, Halictus rubicunda
Wasps
Sphecidae (Astatinae): Astata bicolor; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila pictipennis, Isodontia apicalis
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalinus aeneus, Syritta pipiens; Bombyliidae: Sparnopolius confusus; Muscidae: Neomyia cornicina
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Polites peckius
Moths
Ctenuchidae: Cisseps fulvicollis
Beetles
Scarabaeidae (Cetonniae): Trichiotinus piger