June 2006
 
There are many amateur naturalists who study plants in their home
areas, particularly flowering plants. There are garden clubs who
prove that people love flowering plants. There are wildflower walks
organized by the Nature Centers in Colorado Springs.
Most of these flower lovers know that insects play an important role
in propagating the plants and in producing seeds.
But when it comes to answering the question: Which insect is crucial
in pollinating your favorite wildflower to make it produce its seed,
they would have to admit that they never asked themselves that kind
of question. They may guess that it probably would be a bee of some
"sort" or maybe a butterfly? (Garden clubs are often concerned more
with eradicating those "insect pests".)
Since I am asking that kind of question myself and having to admit
that I do not know the answer either, I decided that I had to try to
find out.
What I learned by reading on the topic of "Insects and Flowers" is that
the insect academics do not have a general answer either.
 
One man stands out among the "Insect and Flower" crowd, though:
Charles Robertson, 1858-1935, who wrote an amazing book "Flowers and
Insects" on this topic for Illinois (latest edition published in 1928).
Arnold Mallis in his book on American Entomologists (Rutgers UP 1971)
did not find space for C.Robertson. C.R. is my Insect-Flower hero who
deserves as many successors in as many areas as possible all over the
world.
In addition to the bees, there are also beetles which visit flowers.
I have selected those families and species which are likely to be found
on flowers in the Colorado Springs area. I found not much data on
which flowers the beetles may visit.
Not all beetle families are known to visit flowers, among them are
 
   COLEOPTERA
      Alleculidae
      Buprestidae
      Cantharidae
      Cephaloidae
      Cerambycidae
      Cleridae
      Curculionidae
      Dermestidae
      Languriidae
      Meloidae
      Melyridae
      Mordellidae
      Nitidulidae
      Oedemeridae
      Phalacridae
      Scarabidae
 
 
Insect identification is the most frustrating effort in entomological
pursuits. Academics would say that there is no shortcut on the royal
highway to ID:
Get a dichotomic key, make each choice at each fork until you end up
with the ID of your specimen. If you fail to arrive at your goal, we know
that you are not a true scholar.
 
I suggest another approach:
 
Since so many IDs have been done by academics, compile a data base
for insect species giving body length (ranges), antenna length/body lenth
ratio, body width/body length ratio, habitat (like food plant, flowers),
colors, macrodesciption (not vein patterns of wings) and let the computer
do some selection work. We do not have to re-invent the wheel of
dichotomic keying each time we try to figure out an ID.
The ID of the plant or flower usually is less of a problem than that of
the insect. To roam the field with a millimeter stick to check the bee
on the flower for body length, antenna length, body width requires some
practice that can be learned. Make note of these numbers immediately plus
other data (colors?).
 
Needless to say, the listing below was done by checking and guessing
from authors like H.F.Wickham, 1902:
Catalog of the Coleoptera of Colorado,in:
Bull.Iowa Lab.of Nat.Hist.,5:211-310.
 
The Colorado insect checklist on the CUMUSEUM website was a great
help,too, as well as the assistence of curator Virginia Scott.
If you discover some absurdities, send me your constructive comments,
which beetle species to drop, add, or replace.
I deliberately use the word "guessing" here to caution you. An academic
would never try this job and admit that he/she was guessing:
Your peers would never forgive and clobber you. That may not be true, but
why take chances and jeopardize your reputation?
That is why this delicate job has not been done before.
 
     * Bruchidae 
 
Bruchus fraterculus Horn       on Solidago?Viburnum?
 
Acmaeodera miliaris Horn       on Asclepias?
 
Acmaeodera immaculata Horn    jun.jul. on Erigeron,Opuntia,Rosa woodsii 

Acmaeodera pulchella Hbst     jun.jul. on Asclepias,Compositae,Geranium
 
Agrilus anxius Gory
 
Agrilus lacustris LeConte
 
Agrilus lateralis Say
 
Agrilus niveiventris Horn
 
Agrilus politus Say            on acer, salix, corylus
 
Anthaxia aeneogaster Lap.
 
Bruchus aureolus Horn          plains - montane, on Solidago?Viburnum?
 
Bruchus discoides Say         jun. on Ipomoea leptophylla, Solidago?Vibur
 
Buprestis adjecta LeConte
 
Buprestis confluenta Say
 
Buprestis consularis Gory
 
Buprestis maculiventris Say
 
Chalcophora angulicollis LeCon
 
Chrysobothris atrofasciata LeC
 
Chrysobothris carinipennis LeC
 
Chrysobothris dentipes Germ.
 
Chrysobothris femorata Fabrici black w/coppery reflex; on ulmus, acer,mal
 
Chrysobothris trinerva Kirby
 
Dicerca divaricata Say        apr.may.jun.jul.aug.
  malus prunus pyrus betula carpinus fraxinus acer
Dicerca prolongata LeConte
  on populus
Melanophila atropurpurea Say
 
Melanophila miranda LeConte
 
Poecilonota cyanipes Say       on Populus
 
Taphrocerus gracilis Say
 
     * Cantharidae  
 
Chauliognathus basalis LeConteaug.sep.  common,on Helianthus,Senecio,Aste
  Verbena,Lactuca,Polygonum;black orange
Silis munica LeConte
 
     * Cerambycidae 
 
Acanthocinus obliquus LeConte
 
Acmaeops ligata LeConte
 
Acmaeops longicornis Kirby     plains-montane, on Rosaceae
 
Acmaeops pratensis Laich
 
Acmaeops proteus Kirby
 
Acmaeops vincta LeConte
 
Batyle ignicollis Say         jun.jul.aug.
 
Batyle suturalis Say           abundant
 
Callidium janthinum LeConte   apr.may. plains-montane
 
Criocephalus agrestis Kirby   jun.jul.aug. plains-montane
 
Criocephalus asperatus LeConte plains-montane
 
Crossidius discoideus Say     aug.
 
Crossidius pulchellus LeConte aug.sep.
 
Cyllene decorus Oliv.         sep. on Solidago? Aster ericoides
 
Dectes spinosus Say
 
Ergates spiculatus LeConte    jul.aug.
 
Gaurotes cressoni Bland.       plains-montane
 
Homaestesis integer LeConte   jul.
 
Homaestis emarginatus Say     jun.jul.
 
Hylotrupes ligneus Fabricius   plains - montane
 
Leptura chrysocoma Kirby       plains - montane
 
Leptura sanguinea LeConte      plains - montane
 
Mecas pergrata Say            jun.
 
Monilema annulatus Say        jun.jul.aug. under Opuntia,
 
Monilema laevigatum Bland     aug. under Opuntia arborescens
 
Monohammus maculosus Hall     sep.
 
Monohammus scutellarus Say     plains - montane
 
Neoclytus muricatulus Kirby    plains - montane
 
Oberea ruficollis Fabricius   jun.jul.
 
Pachyta liturata Kirby         plains - montane on Populus
 
Pogonocherus penicillatus LeCo
 
Prionus californicus Motschuls
 
Prionus fissicornis Hald.     jun.jul.
 
Rhopalophora longipes Say      on Helianthus
 
Saperda calcarata Say
 
Tetraopes canescens LaConte   jun.jul.aug. on Asclepias
 
Tetraopes femoratus LeConte   plains - montane, on Asclepias
 
Typocerus balteatus Horn       on Asclepias?Cirsium?Rudbeckia?Melilotus?
 
Typocerus sinuatus Newman      black-dark brown; on Asclepias?,Melilotus,Heracleum
 
     * Chrysomelidae
 
Adoxus obscuris Linn.
 
Babia quadriguttata  Oliv.     on Yucca angustifolia et alii
 
Bassareus detritus  Oliv.
 
Carrida nigripes Oliv.         on morning-glory Ipomoea
 
Chaetocnema cribrifrons LeCont
 
Chaetocnema denticulata Ill.
 
Chaetocnema subviridis LeConte abundant, plains - montane
 
Chelymorpha argus Licht.      jun.jul. abundant on Ipomoea leptophylla
 
Chlamys plicata Fabricius      plains - montane
 
Chrysochus auratus Fabricius  jul.
 
Chrysochus cobaltinus LeConte
 
Chrysomela elegans Oliv.      jul.
 
Chrysomela exclamationis Fabri on Helianthus
 
Chrysomela heterothecae Linell on Heterotheca
 
Coptocycla aurichalcea Fabrici on Rumex, Ipomoea
 
Coptocycla guttata Oliv.      jun.jul. common
 
Coscinoptera  vittigera LeCont plains - montane, on Oxytropis lamberti
 
Coscinoptera axillaris LeConte abundant
 
Coscinoptera dominicana Fabricjun.jul. on scrub oak quercus
 
Coscinoptera vittigera LeConte
 
Cryptocephalus confluens Say  may.jun.jul. on Artemisia
 
Cryptocephalus quadrimaculatus
 
Diabrotica duodecimpunctata Ol on Aster,Helianthus,Solidago,Oenothera,Her
  Rudbeckia,Viburnum,Ranunculus,Rosa,Salix
Diabrotica tricincta Say
 
Diachus aeruginosus LeConte    on strawberry fruit/Fragaria
 
Diachus auratus Fabricius
 
Disonycha quinquevittata Say   on Salix,Viburnum,Polygonum
 
Disonycha triangularis Say     on Polygonum?Viburnum?
 
Donacia emarginata Kirby
 
Doryphora decemlineata Say
 
Epitrix cucumeris Harr.
 
Euryscopa lecontii Crotch      on oak
 
Exema conspersa Mannerheim
 
Galerucella americana Fabriciumay.jun.jul.
 
Galerucella cavicollis LeConteaug. on Prunus pumala
 
Galerucella decora Say         on Salix
 
Galerucella decora Say
 
Gastroidea cyanea Melsh        on Rumex
 
Gastroidea dissimilis Say      plains - montane;on Rumex crispus
 
Gastroidea formosa Say        jun. on Rumex
 
Glyptina atriventris Horn      plains - montane
 
Graphops nebolosus LeConte    feb.mar.apr.
 
Haltica bimarginata Say        plains - montane
 
Haltica carinata Germ.
 
Haltica foliacea LeConte       on Cucurbita perennis, plains - montane
 
Haltica obliterata LeConte
 
Haltica punctipennis LeConte   on Epilobium angustifolia
 
Lema trilineata Oliv.
 
Lina lapponica Linn.
 
Lina scripta Fabricius         on Salix-Populus
 
Luperodes cyanellus LeConte
 
Luperodes varipes LeConte      common, plains - montane
 
Microrhopala cyanea Say        blue-green
 
Monoxia consputa LeConte       plains - montane
 
Monoxia puncticollis Say
 
Monoxia sordida LeConte
 
Myochrous squamosus LeConte   may.jun.jul.
 
Nodonota tristis Oliv.         common
 
Oedionyches petaunista Fabrici
 
Orsodachna atra Ahrens         plains - montane, on Salix
 
Pachybrachys abdominalis Say
 
Pachybrachys hepaticus Melsh
 
Pachybrachys litigiosus Suffr.jul. common
 
Pachybrachys lustrans LeConte  plains - montane
 
Pachybrachys morosus Haldeman jun. along creeks
 
Pachybrachys pubescens Oliv.   on Salix
 
Pachybrachys tridens Melsh
 
Pachybrachys virgatus LeConte
 
Phyllobrotica decorata Say    may.jun.jul.
 
Phyllobrotica decorata Say
 
Phyllotreta albionica LeConte  plains - montane, on Cleome integrifolia
 
Phyllotreta lewisii Crotch    feb.mar.apr.may.jun.
 
Phyllotreta pusilla Horn
 
Phyllotreta robusta LeConte
 
Psylliodes punctulata Melsh    on Alfalfa - Medicago sativa
 
Systena taeniata Say           on Chenopodium,Iva,Salvia,Verbena,Solanum,
 
Triphabda attenuata Say       jul.aug.
 
Triphabda canadensis Kirby     abundant on Artemisia
 
Triphabda nitidicollis LeContejul.
 
Typophorus canellus Fabricius  on Aster multiflorus
 
Zeugophora scutellaris  Suffr.
 
     * Cleridae     
 
Cleris abruptus LeConte       jun.jul.aug.
 
Cleris analis LeConte          on Opuntia
 
Cleris cordifer LeConte       jul.aug.
 
Enoclerus spinolai            .jun. on Yucca glauca

Hydnocera humeralis Say       jun.jul.aug.
 
Hydnocera longiallis Ziegl    jul.
 
Hydnocera subfasciata  LeConte plains-alpine
 
Hydnocera unifasciata Say
 
Necrobia rufipes Fabricius
 
Trichodes nuttali Kirby        metallic blue
 
Trichodes ornatus ornatus Say  .may. on Rubus deliciosus
 
      * Coccinelidae           

Adalia annectaus Crotch
 
Adalia bipunctata             jun.
 
Adalia humeralis Say
 
Brachyacantgha decempustulata
 
Brachyacantha albifroms Say
 
Brachyacantha ursina Fabriciusjun.jul.aug.
 
Chilocorus bivulnerus Mulsant
 
Cleis picta Rand.              plains - montane
 
Coccinella monticola Mulsant   on Solidago,Polygonum
 
Coccinella prolongata Crotch   on Solidago,Polygonum
 
Coccinella transversoguttata  reddish on Solidago,Polygonum
 
Cycloneda sanguinea Linn.
 
Epilachna currupta Mulsant
 
Exochomus aethiops Bland
 
Hippodamia convergens Buer.    on Solidago
 
Hippodamia glacialis Feb.      on Solidago
 
Hippodamia lecontii Mulsant    on Solidago
 
Hippodamia parenthesis Say     plains - montane; on Solidago
 
Hippodamia quindecim           on Solidago
 
Hippodamia sinuata Mulsant     on Helianthus,Solidago
 
Hyperaspidius insignis Casey
 
Hyperaspidius trimaculatus Lin
 
Hyperaspis fimbriolata Mels.
 
Hyperaspis quadrivittata LeCon
 
Hyperaspis sexverrucata Fabr.
 
Hyperaspis undulata Say
 
Macronaemia episcopalis Kirby jun.jul.aug.
 
Olla abdominalis Say
 
Paramaenia similis Casey       on Umbellifereae in swampy areas;
 
Psyllobora vigintimaculata Say plains - montane
 
Scymnus americanus
 
Scymnus collaris Melsh.
 
Scymnus flavescens Casey
 
Scymnus puncticollis LeConte
 
     * Curculionidae
 
Acalles porosus LeConte        abundant  on Cacti
 
Acanthoscelis acephalus Say    on Oenothera biennis
 
Anthonomus scutellaris LeConte on wild plums - Rubus
 
Anthonomus squamosus  LeConte
 
Anthonomus sycophanta Walsh
 
Anthonopsis mixts LeConte
 
Apion coloradensis Fall       jun.
 
Apion oblitum Smith           jun.
 
Apion occidentale Fall        jun.
 
Apion varicorne Smith         jun. common
 
Balaminus longipes Casey
 
Balaminus monticola Caseu      on scrub oak
 
Baris transversa Say
 
Baris umbiliata LeConte
 
Ceutorhynchus decipies LeConte plains - montane
 
Cleonaspis lutulentus LeConte
 
Coeliodes apicalis Dietz      jun.jul.
 
Conotrachlus leucophaeatus Fah
 
Copturus adspersus LeConte
 
Desmoris constrictus Say       on Helianthus
 
Dorytomus brevicollis LeConte
 
Dorytomus laticollis LeConte
 
Erycus puncticollis LeConte   mar.apr.may.jun.jul.
 
Lixus concavus Say            apr.may.jun.
 
Lixus macer LeConte
 
Lixus paraus LeConte          may.jun.
 
Macrops indistructus Dietz
 
Macrops solutus Boh
 
Orthoris crotchii LeConte      common
 
Pseudanthonomus validus Dietz  abundant on cherry
 
Rhyssematus lineaticollis  Say on Asclepias speciosa
 
Smicronyx fulvus LeConte       on Helianthus
 
Smicronyx vestitus LeConte
 
Tachypterus quadrigibbus Say
 
Trichobaris texana LeConte
 
Tychius linneelus LeConte
 
Tychius textus LeConte
 
     * Dermestidae  
 
Anthrenus scrophularia L. carp on Heracleum?Viburnum?
 
Anthrenus verbasci L.          brown-black; on Viburnum?
 
Attagenus piceus Olivier
 
Cryptorhopalum balteatum LeCon
 
Cryptorhopalum ruficorne LeCon
 
Dermestes caninus Germar
 
Dermestes fasciatus LeConte
 
Dermestes lardarius Linn., lar
 
Dermestes marmoratus Say
 
Dermestes subnitidus LeConte   common
 
     * Elateridae 
 
Alaus oculatus                jun. in decaying hardwoods;
 
Cardiophorus edwardsii Horn    in evergreen shrubs
 
Cardiophorus nocturnus Esch    plains - montane
 
Cardiophorus tenebrosus LeCont plians - montane
 
Corymbites planulus LeConte
 
Deltomelopus amoenicornis Say jun.
 
Drasterius elegans Fabricius
 
Lacon rectangularis Say       mar.apr.may.
 
Hister abbreviatus Fabricius   common
 
Hister harrisii Kirby
 
Hister instratus LeConte
 
Hister lecontei Mars
 
Hister ulkei Hron
 
Saprinus pennsylvanicus Payk
 
     * Lampyridae      
 
Ellychnia corrusa Linn.        on Salix
 
Photinus pyralis Linn.        aug. brown-black; on Asclepias
 
Photuris pennsylvanica DeGeer jul. penna fire fly
 
Pyropyga fenestralis Melsh
 
Telephorus flavipes LeConte    on Heracleum?Viburnum?
 
Telephorus fraxini Say         on Heracleum?Viburnum?
 
Telephorus lineola Fabricius  jun.jul. on Heracleum?Viburnum?
 
     * Melandryidae 
 
Mycterus concolor LeConte     jun.
 
     * Meloidae     
 
Cantharis biguttata LeConte
 
Cantharis compressicornis Horn
 
Cantharis nuttali Say          plains - montane
 
Cantharis sphaericollis Say
 
Epicauta cineraea Forst        on Gentiana?Asclepias?Aster?plains - monta
 
Epicauta ferruginea Say        on Gentiana?Asclepias?Aster?
 
Epicauta maculata Say          on Gentiana?Asclepias?Aster? plains - mont
 
Epicauta pennsylvanica DeGeer  on Gentiana?Asclepias?Aster? plains - mont
 
Gnathium minimum Say
 
Macrobasis albida Say          on Heracleum?Rudbeckia?
 
Macrobasis unicolor Kirby      on Heracleum?Rudbeckia?
 
Meloe laevis Leach
 
Nemognatha bicolor LeConte     common
 
Nemognatha immaculata Say     jul. on Grindelia
 
Nemognatha lurida LeConte
 
Nemognatha lutea LeConte
 
Nemognatha sparsa LeConte
 
Pleuropompha costata LeConte  jul.
 
Pyrota lineata Oliv           may.
 
Pyrota mylabrina Chev         aug. common
 
Pyrota terminata LeConte
 
Zomitis bilineata Say
 
Zonitis atripennis Say
 
     * Melydridae    
 
Anthocomus erichsonii LeConte may.jun. on Hercleum?
 
Attalus morulus LeConte        plains - montane
 
Collops nigriceps Say          on Solidago
 
Collpos bipunctatus            common on Compositae
 
Listus senilis LeConte         common
 
Malachius montanus LeConte    jun.jul.
 
Mecomycter omalinus Horn      jun.
 
Pseudobaeus apicalis Say
 
     * Mordellidae  
 
Anaspis rufa
 
Mordellistena aemula LeConte   on Arenaria?Heracleum?Symphoricarpos?
 
Mordellistena aethiops Smith   on Arenaria?Heracleum?Symphoricarpos?
 
Mordellistena comata LeConte  jun. on Arenaria?Heracleum?Symphoricarpos?
 
Mordellistena morula LeConte   on Iva xanthifolia,Arenaria?Symphoricarpos
 
Mordellistena pustulata Melsh  on Arenaria?Heracleum?Symphoricarpos?
 
Mordellistena unicolor LeConte on Arenaria?Heracleum?Symphoricarpos?
 
Mordella scutellaris Fabricius plains - montane; on Heracleum?Achillea?Ru
  Melilotus
Pentaria trifasciata Melsh
 
     * Nitidulidae  
 
Carpophilus niger Say
 
Carpophilus pallipennis Say
 
Epuraea avara Rand
 
Epuraea truncatella Mannerheim
 
Meligethes mutatus Har.
 
Nitidula rufipes Linn.
 
Nitidula ziczac Say
 
Omosita colon Linn.
 
     * Oedemeridae  
 
Copidita obscura LeConte
 
     * Phalacridae  
 
Olibrus semistriatus LeConte
 
Olibrus vittatus LeConte
 
Stilbus apicalis Melsh
 
     * Rhipiphoridae 
 
Rhipiphorus pectinatus Fabricijul. on Asclepias?
 
     * Scarabaeidae 
 
Aphodius coloradensis Horn    jun.jul.
 
Aphodius concavus Say
 
Aphodius denticulatus Haldeman
 
Aphodius granarius Linn.
 
Aphodius rubeolus Beauv.
 
Aphodius ruricola Melsheimer .jun.jul. L=3-5mm, European dung beetle
 
Aphodius vittatus Say          most common species of the genus
 
Aphonus pyriformis LeConte    jun.jul.aug.
 
Attenius denticulatus Hald.
 
Bolbozeras lazarus Fabricius  jun.jul.
 
Canthon ebenus Say
 
Canthon immaculata Oliv.      jul.
 
Canthon laevis Drury          jun.jul. tumble beetle; dull black w/copper
 
Canthon praticola LeConte     apr.may.jun.
 
Canthon simplex Leconte       apr.may.jun.
 
Cremastochilus castaneae Knochapr.
 
Cremastochilus knochii LeConteapr.may.jun.jul.aug.
 
Cyclocephala immaculata southejul.
 
Dichelonychia sulcata LeConte may.jun. plains-montane
 
Dichelonyx backi Kirby         plains-subalpine
 
Diplotaxis atratula LeConte
 
Diplotaxis carbonata LeConte   on Yucca
 
Diplotaxis haydeni LeConte
 
Euphoria fulgida Fabricius     on Arenaria?Rubus?Heracleum?Asclepias?Aste
 
Euphoria inda Linnaeus        apr.may.jun.jul.aug. on Arfenaria?Heracleum
 
Euphoria kernii Hald           on Argemone;thistles;Heracleum?Asclepias?S
  Arenaria?
Hoplia laticollis LeConte      on Viburnium?
 
Lachnosterna fraterna Harr.
 
Lachnosterna fusca Froeh
 
Lachnosterna lanceolata Say   jul.aug. in Buffalo grass
 
Ligyrus gibbosus DeGeer       jun.jul. carrot beetle
 
Ligyrus relictus Say          jun.jul.aug.
 
Ochodaeus biarmatus LeConte
 
Ochodaeus hecate Panzer        black;
 
Ochodaeus musculus Say        jun.
 
Ochodaeus simplex LeConte     may.jun.
 
Phanaeus carnifex Linn.
 
Polyphylla decemlineata         10-lined June beetle
 
Rhyssemus scaber Hald         mar.apr.may.jun.
 
Serica intermixta              light brown;
 
Serica sericea Ill.           may.jun.jul.aug.
 
Serica vespertina Gyll.       may. black head;
 
Trichiotinus assimilis       .jun. on Spiraea

Trichius affinis Gory         jun.jul. common in foothills - montane; on
 
Trichius piger Fabricius       on Rosa,Heracleum,Apocynum,Asclepias,Cirsi
  Melilotus,Iris,Pentstemon,Rubus
Trox atrox LeConte
 
Trox punctatus Germ            common
 
Trox scutellaus Say
 
Trox suberosus Fabricius       squeak when handled;
 
Trox tuberculatus De Geer
 
Trox unistriatus Beauv
 
Xyloryctes satyrus Fabricius  jul. Rhinozeros beetle
 
 
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