Flower-Visiting Insects
of Prairie
Sunflower
Helianthus rigidus (Prairie Sunflower)
(This sunflower is also referred to as Helianthus pauciflorus. Bees usually suck nectar, but they sometimes collect pollen; flies & beetles feed on pollen or suck nectar; other insects suck nectar. Observations are from Robertson, Moure & Hurd, Reed, Krombein et al., Stevens, Wilhelm & Rericha, and Williams as indicated below.)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apini): Apis mellifera (WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fervidus (Re), Bombus fraternus sn (Rb), Bombus griseocollis sn (Rb, Re, WR), Bombus impatiens (WR), Bombus pensylvanicus sn (Rb), Bombus vagans (Re); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina sp. (Re); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Triepeolus concavus sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes agilis cp olg (Rb, Re, WR), Melissodes subillata (Re), Melissodes trinodis (Re, WR), Svastra obliqua sn cp (Rb); Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada sp. sn (Re); Megachilidiae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis sn (Rb, WR), Megachile inimica sayi sn cp (Rb, WR), Megachile latimanus sn (Rb, Stv, WR), Megachile montivaga (Re), Megachile pugnata (Re)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Doufoureinae): Dufourea marginata cp olg (MH); Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon splendens (Re), Agapostemon virescens (Re, WR), Augochlorella striata (Re), Halictus sp. (Re), Halictus ligatus sn cp fq (Rb, Re, WR), Lasioglossum sp. (Re), Lasioglossum anomalum (Re), Lasioglossum pectorale sn cp (Rb), Lasioglossum pilosum sn cp (Rb), Lasioglossum versatum sn cp (Rb); Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena accepta cp olg (Kr), Andrena helianthi cp olg (Kr, WR); Andrenidae (Panurginae): Pseudopanurgus albitarsis (WR)
Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila nigricans sn (Rb); Vespidae (Eumeninae): Ancistrocerus catskill sn (Re); Ichneumonidae: Ceratogastra ornata sn (Rb); Braconidae: Chelonus sericeus sn (Re)
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalis stipator sn fp (Rb, Re), Eristalis tenax (Re), Eristalis transversa fp (Rb, Re), Syrphus sp. (Re), Toxmerus geminatus (Re), Toxomerus marginatus (Re); Bombyliidae: Exoprosopa dorcadion (Re), Exoprosopa fasciata sn (Rb), Phthiria sp. (Re), Sparnopolius sp. (Re), Sparnopolius confusus sn fq (Rb), Systoechus sp. (Re), Systoechus vulgaris sn (Rb); Tachinidae: Plagiomima spinosula sn (Rb); Milichiidae: Eusiphona sp. (Re)
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos sn (Rb); Pieridae: Colias sp. sn (Re)
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Pholisora catullus sn (Rb)
Moths
Ctenuchidae: Cisseps fulvicollis sn (Rb)
Beetles
Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica sp. (Re), Luperaltica nigripalpis (Re)
True Bugs
Miridae: Coquillettia mimetica sn (Wm2), Lygus lineolaris sn (Rb)