Flower-Visiting Insects
of Western Sunflower
Helianthus occidentalis (Western Sunflower)
(bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen, flies suck nectar or feed on pollen, beetles suck nectar or feed on pollen or explore the flowerheads, other insects suck nectar; observations are from Grundel & Pavlovic, Swengel & Swengel, Lisberg & Young, Grundel et al., Williams, and Wilhelm & Rericha as indicated below)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera (Gnd, WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus griseocollis (WR), Bombus impatiens (WR); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina strenua (Gnd, WR); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus canadensis sn (WR), Triepeolus distinctus sn (WR); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes trinodis (Gnd, WR); Anthophoridae (Xylocopini): Xylocopa virginica (WR); Megachilidae (Anthidiini): Anthidiellum notatum boreale (WR), Dianthidium simile (WR); Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys alternata alternata sn (WR), Coelioxys germana sn (WR), Coelioxys sayi sn (WR); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis (WR), Megachile frugalis (WR), Megachile inimica sayi (WR), Megachile latimanus (WR), Megachile mendica (Gnd, WR), Megachile montivaga (WR), Megachile petulans (WR), Megachile pugnata (WR)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon splendens (WR), Augochlora pura pura (Gnd), Augochlorella aurata (Gnd, WR), Augochloropsis sumptuosa (WR), Halictus ligatus (Gnd, WR), Lasioglossum acuminatum (Gnd), Lasioglossum pectorale (WR), Lasioglossum pilosum pilosum (WR), Lasioglossum vierecki (WR); Halictidae (Nomiinae): Dieunomia heteropoda heteropoda (WR); Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena aliciae cp olg (Gnd, WR), Andrena rudbeckiae (WR); Andrenidae (Panurginae): Perdita bequaerti (Gnd, WR), Pseudopanurgus rugosus cp olg (WR)
Flies
Syrphidae: Allograpta obliqua fp (WR), Eristalis transversa fp (WR), Eupeodes americanus fp (WR), Toxomerus marginatus fp (WR), Toxomerus politus fp (WR); Bombyliidae: Bombylius comanche sn (WR), Geron holosericeus sn (WR), Geron vitripennis sn (WR), Poecilognathus sulphurea sn (WR), Sparnopolius confusus sn (WR)
Butterflies
Lycaenidae: Lycaeides melissa samuelis sn fq (GP, Sw)
Beetles
Buprestidae: Acmaeodera pulchella (WR); Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Wms); Cerambycidae: Batyle suturalis (WR); Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica cristata (WR), Diabrotica virgifera (WR), Luperaltica nigripalpis (WR); Curculionidae: Odontocorynus scutellum-album (WR); Mordellidae: Mordella atrata (WR), Mordellistena divisa (LY)