Adalbert Goertz (Colorado Springs, CO):
On Colorado Beeplants
The identification of insects is a challange to everyone who undertakes
this task even for a limited family or genus. There are a limited number
of checklists which may assist the novice in what to expect for a certain
locality. There are no lists which state which insects are abundant,
common, rare for a certain locality or season like the birders have for their
use.
The birders also have lists of birds for certain habitats which are even
more helpful to the beginning student.
I prepared this list for myself for this reason:
I wanted to have a list of insects (Apoids) for the habitat FLOWER which
would give me some idea what I am up against when I see bees to identify.
The data was taken from some literature
(T.B.Mitchell (1890-1983): Bees of the Eastern US, 2 vols.,1960,1962;
K.V.Krombein et al.: Catalog of Hymenoptera;
Charles Robertson (1858-1935): Flowers and Insects, Carlinsville IL 1928,
226 pp. - my hero;
Cockerell:Bees of Boulder Boulder County,1907;
V.J.Tepedino:Flower Visitation and Pollen Collection Rcords for
Bees of High Altitude Shortgrass Prairie in Southeastern Wyoming,in:
Southwestern Entomologist, March 1982;
The Non-Apoid visitors are taken from
Jackson, Lawrence Oscar:
Insect Visitors and Pollinators of some Colorado Wildflowers,
Thesis CU Boulder, 1926.
My own observations are marked with (*).
The database of the CUMUSEUM in Boulder, CO was also helpful in
determining which insects to expect in Colorado.
The choice of plants here is arbitrarily limited to those commonly
found in the Rocky Mountain Eastern Front Range of Colorado.
I hope that you the reader, whereever you are, will forgive me
for this limited product of mine. However, I encourage you to compile
a corresponding listing of flower visitors and pollinators for your
area, be it listing of bees, beetles, flies, bugs or ??
Mitchell distinguishes two groups of bees (Apoidea):
Short tongued families: Colletidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, Melittidae
which he describes in vol.1
Long tongued families: Megachilidae, Anthophoridae, Xylocopidae, Apidae
which he describes in vol.2.
Unfortunately, he does not define the criterium of what is meant by short
and long (in mm) and nobody I asked had any clue either.
Does anyone know out there in cyberland?
The CUMUSEUM recognizes the following numbers of genera in Colorado:
Andrenidae (18 Genera)
Colletidae (16 Genera)
Halictidae (23 Genera)
Melittidae (5 Genera)
Megachilidae (31 Genera)
Anthophoridae, Xylocopidae and Apidae (66 Genera)
I have not attempted to even approximately find data for all the
Colorado insect genera listed at CUMUSEUM.
The listing below gives plant family and genus of flower visitors to
be expected on some flowers.
Acerac. Acer
*Andrena *Anthophora?
Agaver.. Yucca
This is no beeplant. Lep:*Yucca Moth
*Dipt Col:*Coccinella,*Carpophilus?
*Enoclerus
Anacard. Toxicodendron
Anacard. Rhus
*Andrena Halictus *Stelis *Nomada
*Melissodes *Sphecodes *Apis
Sph:Philanthus, Chlorion Vesp:Odynerus
Dipt:*Epeolus?,*Syrphid Lep:*Vanessa
Apiac. Angelica
Apiac. Cicuta
Col:Labia,Ceratomegalia Vesp:Odynerus,Cryptocheilus,
Episyron,Lophopompilus Sph:Ancistroma,Cerceris,
Chalybion,Crabro,Lyroda Sceliphron,Stizus,Tachysphex
Dipt:Simulium, Odontomyia, Syritta, Agromyia,Calythea,Egle,
Sarcophaga, Winthema
Apiac. Conium
Apiac. Heracleum
Colletes Hylaeus
Nomadopsis Anthidium
Hem:Enochistus,Lygus,Orectoderis Col:Trichodes,Coccinella,
Hippodamea,Pedilus, Leptacmaeops,Tudolia,Typocerus,
Scelolyperus,Mylabris Beth:Chrysis,Holopyga
Vesp:Odynerus,Lophopumpilus
Dipt:Odontomyia,Stratiomys, Morellia,Sarcophaga,Acemyia,
Belvosia,Frontina,Gonia, Myiocera
Apiac. Osmorhiza
Apocynac. Apocynum
*Psithyrus?
Asclep.. Asclepias
Nomia Megachila
Melissodes Bombus
Apis
Hem:Ceritechus
Col:Trichodes,Collops, Tetraopes
Vesp:Odunerus, Polistes,Vespa
Sph:Bembis,Cerceris, Chalybion,Chlorion,
Crabro,Notoglossa, Tachysphex
Dipt:Odontomyia,Catabomba, Sarcophaga,Echinomyia,
Linnaemyia,Peleteria, Senotainia
Asterac. Achillea
Asterac. Agoseris
Asterac. Antennaria
Asterac. Arnica
Dipt.:*Anthomyid
Asterac. Artemisia
Nectar-less
Asterac. Aster
*Dialictus, *Megachile,
*Heterosarus?, *Bombus,
*Apis.
*Coleopteron, *Meloe Dipt:*Tachinid, *Lonchaea
*Eristalis?
Asterac. Bahia
*Evylaeus
Asterac. Carduus
Asterac. Centaurea
Dialictus *Melissodes
Ceratina
Apis
Asterac. Chrysanthemum
*Dialictus *Agapostemon
*Sphecodes *Megachile
*Apis
Asterac. Chrysothamnus
*Apis Col:*Chauliognathus
Asterac. Cichorium
Asterac. Cirsium
Colletes Hylaeus Andrena
*Halictus Dialictus
*Evylaeus Lasioglossum
Sphecodes *Melissodes
Svastra *Ceratina
Bombus *Apis
Asterac. Conyza
Asterac. Coreopsis
*Andrena *Agapostemon
*Halictus *Panurginus
*Dufourea *Coelioxys
*Megachile *Diadasia
*Melissodes *Apis
Hem: *Phymata
Sph:*Sphex,*Cerceris?
Dipt:*Agromyzid,*Eristalis
Asterac. Cosmos
*Agapostemon *Halictus
*Melissodes *Bombus
Hem:*Phymata Vesp:*Polistes
Asterac. Dugaldia
Asterac. Dyssodia
Asterac. Echinacea
*Andrena *Agapostemon
*Megachile *Melissodes
*Svastra *Ceratina
*Triepeolus *Bombus
*Apis Hem:*Phymata
Sph:*Podalonia Dipt:*Eristalis
Asterac. Erigeron
*Hylaeus *Evylaeus
*Halictus *Dialictus
*Agapostemon *Sphecodes
*Ashmeadiella *Megachile
*Heriades *Neolarra?
*Nomada *Bombus
*Apis Sph:*Ammophila
Dipt:*Exoprosopa, *Muscid
Asterac. Gaillardia
*Agapostemon *Megachile
*Exomalopsis *Melissodes
*Svastra *Bombus
Asterac. Grindelia
*Andrena Agapostemon
*Evylaeus *Nomia
Lasioglossum *Megachile
Anthidium Hoplitis
Dianthidium *Melissodes
*Bombus *Apis
Col.:*Meloe
Asterac. Helianthella
Asterac. Helianthemum
Asterac. Helianthus
*Andrena Pterosarus
*Agapostemon *Halictus
*Lasioglossum *Megachile
Dianthidium *Coelioxys
*Heriades *Exomalopsis
*Melissodes *Svastra
*Anthophora *Bombus
*Apis
Hem:Phymata Sph:*Microbembix
Asterac. Heterotheca
Hylaeus Agapostemon
Halictus *Evylaeus
Panurginus Megachile
Heterosarus Melissodes
*Exomalopsis?
Asterac. Hieracium
Asterac. Hymenoxis
Asterac. Lactuca
Asterac. Lygodesmia
Asterac. Machaeranthera
*Andrena
*Apis
Dipt:*Bombyllid
Asterac. Matricaria
Asterac. Ratibida
Col:Typocerus Vesp.:Odynerus
Dipt:Myiophasia, Geron
Asterac. Rudbeckia
*Andrena *Halictus
*Dufourea *Coelioxys
*Melissodes *Bombus
*Apis Sph:*Sphex
Dipt:*Phaenicia
Asterac. Senecio
*Andrena *Sphecodes
*Osmia *Nomada
*Apis
Col:*Elaterid, *Chauliognathus
Dipt:*Syrphid
Asterac. Solidago
*Bombus *Apis
Sph:*Microbembix
Asterac. Taraxacum
*Hylaeus *Andrena
*Lasioglossum *Evylaeus *Osmia
*Bombus *Apis
*Dipt:*Thricops,*Calliphorid
Asterac. Thelesperma
Asterac. Tragopogon
Boraginac. Cryptantha
Boraginac. Hackelia
*Ceratina?
Boraginac. Lithospermum
Boraginac. Mertensia
Brassic Alliaria
*Andrena *Agapostemon
Dipt:*Bombylius
Brassic Alyssum
Brassic Arabis
Brassic Capsella
Brassic Cardaria
*Andrena *Nomada
Brassic Descouraina
*Andren *Formica
Brassic Erysimum
Brassic Hesperis
*Bombus
Brassic Sisymbrium
Brassic Stanleya
*Bombus *Apis
*Formica
Brassic Thlaspi
Cactac. Echinocerus
Cactac. Opuntia
*Apapostemon *Hoplitis
*Melissodes Lithurgus
Anthophora Ceratina
Hem:Apiomerus Col:Eupohoria
Cactac. Pediocactus
Campanul. Campanula
*Megachile *Melissodes
Capparid Cleome
*Megachile Melissodes
Svastra *Bombus
*Apis Hem:Harmostes
Vesp:Odynerus Sph:Sphex, Crabro
Dipt:Tachina,Hylomyia
Caprifol. Lonicera
*Osmia *Bombus *Apis
Caprifol. Symphoricarpos
*Apis
Vesp:Lophopompilus, Odynerus
Sph:Chlorion Dipt:*Bombylid, Sarcophaga
Caprifol. Viburnum
*Bombus
Caryophyl. Arenaria
Caryophyl. Cerastium
Sph:*Podalonia Vesp:*Entypus
Caryophyl. Saponaria
Caryophyl. Silene
Caryophyl. Stellaria
Chenopod. Chenopodium
Nectar-less
Commelin. Tradescantia
*Agapostemon *Bombus
*Apis
Convolv. Convolvulus
*Halictus *Evylaeus
*Nomada *Apis
Dipt:*Exoprosopa, *Anthrax
Convolv. Ipomoea
*Halictus *Agapostemon
*Melissodes
Crassul. Sedum
Bombus *Apis
Dipt:Vollucella
Cucurbitac. Cucurbita
*Peponapis
Ericac. Arctostaphylus
Ericac. Vaccinium
Euphorbiac Euphorbia
Megachile Col:Auphoria
Tiph:Tiphia Mut:Dasymutilla
Vesp:Eumenes,Odynerus,Ageniella, Aporinellus,Cryptocheilus,
Episyron,Lophopompilus,Mygnimia,Nannopompilus,Priocnmis
Sph:Astata,Crabro, Eucerceris,Nysson,Paranysson,
Pseudoplisus,Stizus,Tachysphex
Dipt:Paragus,Saltella,Dionea,Musca, Stratiomys
Fabac. Astragalus
Nomadopsis *Megachile
*Bombus
Fabac. Coronilla
*Megachike *Anthidium
Fabac. Glycyrrhiza
*Colletes *Osmia *Hoplitis *Megachile
Fabac. Lupinus
*Megachile *Anthidium Bombus
Apis Hem:Apiomerus
Fabac. Medicago
*Halictus *Bombus
Fabac. Melilotus
*Andrena? *Dufourea?
*Apis
Fabac. Oxytropis
Fabac. Psoralea
Megachile Anthidium
Anthidiellum Sph:Tachysphex
Fabac. Robinia
*Bombus *Apis
Fabac. Thermopsis
Fabac. Trifolium
*Halictus *Agapostemon
*Anthidiellum *Megachile
*Osmia *Heriades
*Coelioxys *Hoplitis
*Bombus *Apis
Fabac. Vicia
Fumariac. Corydalis
Gentian. Frasera
Colletes Bombus
Geraniac. Erodium
Geraniac. Geranium
Halictus Megachile
*Anthidium Ceratina
Bombus Apis
Col:Trichodes
Grossulariac. Ribes
*Andrena Ves:*Polistes
Lep:*Vanessa
Hydrophyll. Phacelia
Hypericac. Hypericum
Iridac. Iris
Labiat. Mentha
*Apis
Labiat. Monarda
Halictus Dialictus
Heriades Melissodes
Anthophora Ceratina
*Bombus Col:Trichionoterus,Coscinoptera
sph:Crabro,Philanthus,Podalonia vesp:Eumenes,Odynerus
Labiat. Salvia
*Halictus *Agapostemon
*Coelioxys *Anthidium
*Megachile *Osmia?
*Melissodes *Bombus
*Apis Sph:*Ammophila
Labiat. Scutellaria
Liliac. Allium
*Dufourea?
Liliac. Leucocrinum
Liliac. Lilium
Liliac. Smilacina
Liliac. Zigadenus
Linac. Linum
*Halictus *Heriades
*Bombus Sph:*Ammophila
Dipt:Chrysotoxum,Syrphus,Peleteri
Loasac. Mentzelia
*Andrena *Perdita
Col:*Tenebrionid?
Nyctag. Mirabilis
Oleac. Forsythia
*Dipt:*Muscid
Oleac. Ligustrum
Onagrac. Calilophus
Onagrac. Epilobium
*Evylaeus *Megachile
*Bombus *Apis
Vesp:Eumenes Dipt:*Bombylius
Onagrac. Gaura
*Nomada Lep.:Hyles
Onagrac. Oenothera
*Agapostemon *Megachile
*Apis Dipt:*Eristalis
Lep.: Hyles
Orchidac. Corallorhiza
Papaver. Argemone
*Agapostemon *Evylaues
*Megachile *Lithurgus?
*Melissodes *Ceratina
*Apis Sph:*Sphex,*Tachysphex
Crabspider:*Misumene
Plantaginac. Plantago
Nectar-less
Polemon. Gilia
Anthidium Dianthidium
Megachile Bombus
Apis Hem:Homaemus
Dipt:Systoechus
Polemoniac. Ipomopsis
Polygon. Eriogonum
*Perdita *Evylaeus?
Sph:Cerceris,Philanthus,Crabro, Aphilanthops,
Chry:Chrysis Vesp:Polistes,Pompilid;
Dipt:Phthiria,Senotainia,*Syrphid, Tachytes,Nemestrinopsis
Col:*Chauliognathus
Polygonac. Polygonum (Reynutria)
*Melissodes
*Bombus *Apis
Sph:*Cerceris,Microbembix, *Ectemnius,*Ammophila
Vesp:*Polistes,*Eumenes,*Pepsis, *Odynerus:
Dipt:*Syrphid,*Calliphora, *Exoprosopa,*Phaenicia
Primulac. Androsace
Primulac. Dodecatheon
Ranunculac. Aconitum
Ranunculac. Anemone
Ranunculac. Aquilegia
Ranunculac. Clematis
*Lasioglossum *Bombus
*Apis
Col:Mordellistena Vesp:Mygnimia
Ranunculac. Delphinium
Ranunculac. Pulsatilla
*Andrena
Ranunculac. Ranunculus
*Apis
Ranunculac. Thalictrum
Nectar-less
Rosac. Fallugia
*Hylaeus *Apis
Rosac. Fragaria
*Apis
Rosac. Geum
*Hylaeus
Rosac. Malus
*Agapostemon *Evylaeus?
Dialictus *Apis
Rosac. Potentilla
*Colletes *Hylaeus
*Andrena *Panurginus
*Halictus *Agapostemon
*Melissodes *Bombus
*Apis
Sph:*Sphex *Dipt:Syrphid?,*Bombyllid
Rosac. Prunus
*Andrena *Evylaus *Stelis
*Nomada *Bombus
*Apis
Vesp:*Eumenes *Formica
*Dipt *Mordella
Rosac. Pyrus
Rosac. Rosa
Rosac. Rubus
*Apis
Rosac. Spiraea
*Andrena *Evylaeus?
Salicac. Salix
*Colletes *Andrena *Lasioglossum *Hoplitis *Coelioxys
*Heriades *Nomada *Bombus
*Philanthus *Dipt:Epalpus
Scrophul. Castilleya
Scrophul. Linaria
Scrophul. Orthocarpus
Scrophul. Pedicularis
Scrophul. Penstemon
*Apapostemon *Osmia
Ceratina *Bombus
*Apis
Vesp:*Pseudomasaris
Scrophul. Verbascum
*Agapostemon *Bombus
*Apis Col:*Gymnetron
Vesp:*Pompilid
Scrophul. Veronica
*Megachile
Solanac. Physalis
Nectar-less?
Valerian. Valeriana
Verbenac. Caryopteris
*Hylaeus *Agapostemon
*Megachile *Melissodes
*Bombus *Apis
Dipt:*Phaenicia
Verbenac. Verbena
*Apis
From the listing one can see that the most bee-friendly plant
families are Asteraceae and Fabaceae.
Bee-unfriendly plant families seem to be
Agaverac., Amaranthac., Boraginac., Brassicac., Chenopodac., Convolvulac.,
Cucurbitac., Ericac., Liliac., Malvac., Onagrac., Primulac., Ranunculac.
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