Flower-Visiting Insects
of Tall Thistle
Cirsium altissimum (Tall Thistle)
(Bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen, flies feed on pollen, beetles feed on pollen or gnaw on floral tissue, plant bugs suck nectar or feed on floral tissue, other insects suck nectar. Observations are from Robertson, Graenicher, Macior, Williams, Kopper et al., Stevens, Wilhelm & Rericha, and Rightmyer as indicated below.)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apini): Apis mellifera sn cp (Rb, Gr, WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus affinis sn (Gr, WR), Bombus auricomus sn cp (Rb, Gr, WR), Bombus bimaculatus (WR), Bombus fernaldae sn (Mc), Bombus fervidus (WR), Bombus fraternus sn (Rb), Bombus griseocollis sn (Gr, WR), Bombus impatiens sn cp (Rb, WR), Bombus pensylvanicus sn cp fq (Rb, Gr), Bombus vagans sn cp (Rb, Gr, WR), Psithyrus variabilis sn (Rb, Gr); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla sn (Rb, Gr); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Triepeolus donatus sn (Gr, Rtm); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes agilis sn (Rb), Melissodes bimaculata (WR), Melissodes desponsa sn cp fq olg (Rb, Gr, WR), Melissodes trinodis sn (Gr), Svastra obliqua cp (Rb, WR); Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys rufitarsis sn (Gr); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile latimanus sn cp (Gr, Stv), Megachile montivaga (WR); Megachilidae (Trypetini): Heriades leavitti sn cp np (Rb)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon virescens sn (Rb), Augochlora pura (WR), Augochlorella aurata (WR), Halictus ligatus (WR), Lasioglossum connexum cp np (Gr), Lasioglossum imitatum cp np (Rb, Gr, WR), Lasioglossum pectorale (WR), Lasioglossum pilosum cp np (Gr), Lasioglossum zephyrum cp np (Gr); Halictidae (Nomiinae): Nomia nortoni (MH)
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalis tenax fp (Gr), Eupeodes volucris fp (Gr)
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippus sn (Gr), Limenitis archippus sn (Rb, Gr), Speyeria aphrodite alcestis sn (Gr), Speyeria cybele sn (Rb, Gr, WR), Speyeria idalis sn fq (Gr, KMC), Vanessa atalanta sn (Rb), Vanessa virginiensis sn (Gr); Pieridae: Pieris rapae sn (Gr); Papilionidae: Papilio cresphontes sn (Rb, WR), Papilio glaucus sn (Rb, Gr, WR), Papilio polyxenes asterias sn (Gr), Papilio troilus sn (Rb)
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Epargyreus clarus sn (WR), Polites themistocles sn (Gr)
Moths
Sphingidae: Hemaris diffinis sn (WR), Hemaris thysbe sn (Rb, WR), Hyles lineata sn (Rb, WR)
Beetles
Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Wms, WR); Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica barberi (WR), Diabrotica cristata (WR), Diabrotica undecimpunctata fp (Gr, WR), Luperaltica nigripalpis (WR); Meloidae: Epicauta pennsylvanica (WR); Scarabaeidae: Trichiotinus piger fp (Gr)
Plant Bugs
Miridae: Lygus lineolaris (WR), Plagiognathus politus (WR)