Flower-Visiting Insects
of Swamp Aster
Aster puniceus (Swamp Aster)
(Bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen, flies suck nectar or feed on pollen, other insects suck nectar. Some observations are from Wilhelm & Rericha as indicated below, otherwise they are fom Graenicher. Some observations from Graenicher may involve the Shining Aster, Aster firmus, because this aster species has been considered a variety of the Swamp Aster in the past. A scientific synonym of the Swamp Aster is Symphotrichum puniceum.)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apini): Apis melliera sn (Gr, WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus affinis sn cp, Bombus grieocollis sn, Bombus impatiens (WR), Bombus pensylvanicus sn, Bombus ternarius sn, Bombus vagans sn cp; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn cp (Gr, WR), Ceratina mikmaqi (WR); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes druriella (WR), Melissodes rustica sn cp; Anthophoride (Xylocopini): Xylocopa virginica sn cp; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys rufitarsis rufitarsis sn; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile centuncularis sn cp, Megachile latimanus sn cp
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericeus sn cp, Halictus confusus sn cp, Halictus ligatus (WR), Halictus rubicundus sn cp, Lasioglossum connexum sn cp, Lasioglossum coriaceum sn, Lasioglossum pilosum pilosum sn cp; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes americana sn; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena asteris sn cp, Andrena helianthi sn cp, Andrena hirticincta sn cp
Wasps
Sphecidae (Bembecinae): Bembix americana; Sphecidae (Philanthinae): Cerceris clypeata, Philanthus gibbosus; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Sphex ichneumoneus; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Ancistrocerus adiabatus, Ancistrocerus antilope; Vespidae (Polistinae): Polistes fuscatus;
Flies
Bombyliidae: Exoprosopa decora, Poecilanthrax halcyon, Sparnopolius confusus, Villa fulviana; Conopidae: Physocephala tibialis; Syrphidae: Allograpta obliqua, Eristalinus aeneus, Eristalis dimidiata, Eristalis flavipes, Eristalis tenax, Eristalis transversa, Helophilus fasciatus, Helophilus latifrons, Platycheirus obscurus, Sericomyia militaris, Sphaerophoria contiqua, Syritta pipiens, Tropidia quadrata; Calliphoridae: Calliphora vicina, Cochliomyia macellaria, Lucilia illustris, Pollenia rudis; Muscidae: Graphomya maculata, Musca domestica, Stomoxys calcitrans; Tachinidae: Chaetogaedia analis, Leucostoma simplex, Phasia fumosa, Phasia occidentalis, Siphona geniculata, Spallanzania hesperidarum, Tachina algens, Tachinomyia panaetius
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Boloria selene myrina, Danaus plexippus, Phyciodes tharos, Vanessa atalanta, Vanessa virginiensis; Pieridae: Colias philodice, Pieris rapae, Pontia protodice
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Poanes hobomok hobomok, Poanes hobomok pocohantas
Moths
Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera, Helicoverpa zea; Sesiidae: Cisseps fulvicollis