Flower-Visiting Insects
of Common
Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)
(Insects suck nectar; most observations are from Robertson, although some observations are from Moure & Hurd, Betz, Krombein et al., and Hilty as indicated below)
With pollinia:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Bombini): Bombus griseocallis; Anthophoridae (Anthophorini): Anthophora abrupta; Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus bifasciatus, Triepeolus remigatus; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Florilegus condigna, Melissodes agilis, Melissodes comptoides, Melissodes tepaneca, Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa fq, Synhalonia rosae, Synahalonia speciosa, Xenoglossa strenua; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys octodentata; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile petulans, Megachile texana
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericea, Halictus confusus, Halictus rubicunda; Halictidae (Sphecodini): Sphecodes ranunculi; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes latitarsis, Colletes nudus
Wasps
Sphecidae (Bembicinae): Bembix nubilipennis, Stictia carolina; Sphecidae (Larrinae): Tachytes aurulenta; Sphecidae (Philanthinae): Cerceris bicornuta; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Prionyx atrata fq, Prionyx thomae, Sphex ichneumonea; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Euodynerus annulatus; Tiphiidae: Myzinum quinquecincta; Scoliidae: Campsomeris plumipes, Scolia bicincta
Flies
Mydidae: Mydas clavatus; Syrphidae: Eristalis dimidiatus, Mallota albipilis, Mallota bautias, Syritta pipiens, Tropidia mamillata, Tropidia quadrata; Conopidae: Physocephala texana; Tachinidae: Archytas analis, Belvosia bifasciata, Belvosia unifasciata, Linnaemya comta, Trichopoda plumipes; Muscidae: Helina rufitibia
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippus, Nymphalis antiopa, Polygonia interrogationis, Speyeria cybele, Vanessa atalanta
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Achalarus lyciades
Moths
Sphingidae: Xylophanes tersa; Ctenuchidae: Cisseps fulvicollis
Beetles
Lampyridae: Photinus pyralis
Plant Bugs
Lygaeidae: Lygaeus turcicus, Oncopeltus fasciatus; Pentatomidae: Euschistus variolaria, Podisus maculiventris prd
Without pollinia:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Bombini): Bombus auricomus, Bombus pensylvanica fq; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Svastra obliqua obliqua; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochloropsis metallica metallica
Wasps
Sphecidae (Philanthinae): Cerceris clypeata; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Sceliphron caementaria
Flies
Culicidae: Aedes stimulans; Stratiomyidae: Odontomyia cincta; Bombyliidae: Anthrax sinuosa; Conopidae: Stylogaster biannulata; Tachinidae: Gymnoclytia occidua
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Limenitis archippus, Speyeria idalia; Lycaenidae: Lycaena hyllus, Satyrium calanus; Pieridae: Colias philodice; Papilionidae: Battus philenor
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Epargyreus clarus, Pholisora catullus, Polites peckius, Polites themistocles
Pollinia Presence Unspecified:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis melliera (Btz) fq; Apidae (Bombinae): Bombus pensylvanica (Btz); Megachilidae (Trypetini): Heriades carinatum (Kr)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlorella striata (MH)
Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Sphex ichneumonea (Btz)
Moths
Sesiidae: Melittia cucurbitae (H)
Found dead or entrapped on flowers:
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera
Flies
Tachinidae: Spallanzania hesperidarum; Sarcophagidae: Ravinia anxia; Muscidae: Neomyia cornicina, Stomoxys calcitrans
Moths
Arctiidae: Haploa colona; Noctuidae: Agrotis ipsilon, Caenurgina erechtea