Flower-Visiting Insects
of Annual Sunflower
Helianthus annuus (Annual Sunflower)
(Bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen; flies and beetles suck nectar or feed on pollen, other insects suck nectar. The ant sucks nectar from extrafloral nectaries on the petioles of leaves, rather than from the flowerheads. Observations are from Robertson, LaBerge, Moure & Hurd, Hilty, Krombein et al., Mawdsley, Grundel et al., Williams, Stevens, Wilhelm & Rericha, and Rightmyer)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apini): Apis mellifera sn cp fq (Rb, WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus auricomus (WR), Bombus bimaculatus sn (Rb), Bombus griseocollis sn fq (Rb, WR), Bombus impatiens sn cp fq (Rb, WR), Bombus pensylvanicus sn cp fq (Rb), Bombus vagans (Rb), Psithyrus variabilis sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Ceratini): Ceratina calcarata (Gnd), Ceratina dupla sn cp (Rb); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Triepeolus concavus sn (Rb, Rtm), Triepeolus cressonii sn (Rtm), Triepeolus distinctus sn (Rtm), Triepeolus helianthi sn (Gnd, Rtm), Tripeolus lunatus sn (Rtm), Triepeolus martini sn (Rtm), Triepeolus remigatus sn (Rtm), Triepeolus scelestus sn (Rtm), Tripeolus subnitens sn (Rtm); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes agilis sn cp fq olg (Rb), Melissodes bimaculata (LB), Melissodes boltoniae sn cp fq (Rb), Melissodes coloradensis sn (Rb), Melissodes comptoides (LB), Melissodes dentiventris sn (Rb), Melissodes trinodis sn (Rb, WR), Svastra atripes (LB), Svastra obliqua sn cp fq (Rb); Anthophoridae (Xylocopini): Xylocopa virginica (WR); Megachilidae (Anthidiini): Stelis grossa sn (Gnd); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile inimica sayi sn (Rb), Megachile latimanus sn (Rb, Stv), Megachile mendica sn cp (Rb), Megachile pugnata (WR)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Doufoureinae): Dufourea marginata cp olg (MH, Kr); Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon texanus (MH), Agapostemon virescens sn fq (Rb), Augochlorella striata sn (Rb), Augochloropsis metallica metallica (MH), Halictus confusus sn (Rb), Halictus ligatus sn cp fq (Rb, Gnd, WR), Halictus rubicundus (MH), Lasioglossum imitatum cp (Rb), Lasioglossum pilosum cp (Rb), Lasioglossum versatum cp (Rb); Halictidae (Nomiinae): Nomia heteropoda heteropoda (MH), Nomia heteropoda kirbii (MH), Nomia triangulifera (MH, Kr); Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena accepta sn cp olg (Rb, Kr), Andrena helianthi sn cp olg (Rb, Kr); Andrenidae (Panurginae): Heterosarus helianthi (Kr), Perdita bequaerti fq (Gnd), Perdita swenki (Gnd), Pseudopanurgus rugosus cp olg (Kr, WR); Melittidae: Hesperapis carinata (Gnd)
Ants
Formicidae (Formicinae): Camponotus americanus sn@exfl np (WR)
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalis brousii sn (Rb), Eristalis transversa sn (Rb), Syritta pipiens fp np (Rb); Bombyliidae: Sparnopolius confusus sn fq (Rb), Villa alternata fp np (Rb)
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippus sn (Rb, H), Speyeria cybele sn (Rb); Pieridae: Pieris rapae sn (Rb)
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Polites themistocles sn (Rb)
Beetles
Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus sn (Rb, Wms); Chrysomelidae: Acalymma vittatum fp np (Rb), Diabrotica undecimpunctata fp np (Rb); Cleridae: Phyllobaenus pubescens (Mwd)
Plant Bugs
Miridae: Lygus lineolaris (Rb)