Cedar Creek
Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order HYMENOPTERA

Family ANDRENIDAE

(Andrenid Bees)

(Table of Species)

The dominant genus in this enormous family (1199 NA spp) is Andrena. Perhaps 30 species occur on CCNHA, but most frequent shrubs (Salix, Cornus, Amelanchier, Vaccinium) in woods and marshes. Only a few species are routinely encountered in fields. Most species are polylectic, but they have relatively short flight seasons. Numerous subgenera are recognized, but these are ignored in the following discussion.

Perhaps first to appear in early April is the slender A. wellesleyana, with two submarginal cells. Most abundant in early summer is the robust A. vicina, with black scopae. It is found on all types of tree and shrub flowers. A. bradleyi is a long-faced species found at leatherleaf flowers in early May. Other common early summer species of Andrena include (crataegi, rubi, rugosa, sigmundi, mandibularis, miserabilis). Less common are Andrena (carlini, cressonii, mariae, montensis, wilkella...?). Among the more common late summer species that occur with some frequency on old field Asteraceae are Andrena (asteris, hirticincta, canadensis, helianthi, solidaginis). Less common late summer species of Andrena include (nubecula, placata, placida, ...?).

Small black and yellow species of Perdita are infrequently collected, and then only in decent prairie and savanna. These include P. swenki, P. albipennis, P. LG? and P. perpallida-citrinella. The last mentioned is a pale species that appears to specialize on Petalostemon villosum. It occurs only in xeric fields and savanna where its host is found. Pterosaurus nebrascensis? has also been collected.

jhaar@lter.umn.edu Last updated May, 2000