Flower-Visiting Insects
of Bull Thistle


Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle) introduced
(Bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen, Syrphid flies and beetles feed on pollen, other insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson, Graenicher, Krombein et al., Williams, and Wilhelm & Rericha as indicated below)

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apini): Apis mellifera (WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus auricomus sn (Rb), Bombus fervidus (WR), Bombus griseocollis sn fq (Rb, WR), Bombus impatiens sn fq (Rb, WR), Bombus pensylvanicus sn cp fq icp (Rb, Gr), Bombus vagans sn cp (Rb, Gr), Psithyrus citrinus sn (Rb), Psithyrus variabilis sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Anthophorini): Anthophora walshii sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn cp (Gr); Anthophoridae (Emphorini): Ptilothrix bombiformis sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Triepeolus concavus sn (Rb), Triepeolus donatus sn (Rb), Triepeolus lunatus concolor sn fq (Rb), Triepeolus nevadensis sn (Rb), Triepeolus remigatus sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes agilis sn (Rb), Melissodes bimaculata bimaculata sn (Rb), Melissodes coloradensis sn (Rb), Melissodes communis sn (Rb), Melissodes comptoides sn (Rb), Melissodes desponsa sn cp fq icp olg (Rb, Gr, WR), Melissodes rustica sn (Rb), Melissodes trinodis sn, (Rb, Gr), Peponapis pruinosa sn (WR), Svastra obliqua obliqua sn fq (Rb); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile latimanus sn cp fq (Rb, Gr), Megachile parallela parallela sn (Rb), Megachile pugnatus sn cp (Gr)

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericeus sn (Rb, Gr), Agapostemon texanus texanus sn cp (Rb), Agapostemon virescens sn cp (Rb, Gr, WR), Halictus ligatus cp np (Rb, WR), Halictus rubicundus sn (Gr), Lasioglossum pilosum pilosum cp np (Rb); Halictidae (Nomiinae): Nomia nortoni sn (Rb, Kr); Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus mesillae (Kr)

Flies
Bombyliidae: Exoprosopa fasciata sn (Rb), Systoechus vulgaris sn fq (Rb); Conopidae: Physocephala tibialis sn (Rb); Syrphidae: Epistrophe emarginata fp (Gr), Toxomerus geminatus fp (Gr)

Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Cercyonis pegala alope sn (Gr), Danaus plexippus sn (Rb, Gr, WR), Phyciodes tharos sn (Rb), Speyeria cybele sn (Gr), Speyeria idalia sn (Rb, Gr), Vanessa atalanta sn (WR), Vanessa cardui sn (WR); Papilionidae: Papilio glaucus sn (Rb, Gr), Papilio polyxenes asterias sn (Rb, Gr), Papilio troilus sn (Rb); Pieridae: Colias philodice sn (Rb), Eurema nicippe sn (Rb), Pontia protodice sn (Rb)

Skippers
Hesperiidae: Poanes zabulon sn (Rb), Polites peckius sn (Rb, Gr), Polites themistocles sn fq (Rb, Gr), Thorybes bathyllus sn (Rb)

Moths
Ctenuchidae: Cisseps fulvicollis sn (Rb); Noctuidae: Helicoverpa zea sn (Gr); Sphingidae: Hemaris thysbe sn (WR)

Beetles
Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus fp (Gr, Wms); Melyridae: Malachius thevenetti fp (Gr)


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