Index:
- Table 1. Directory of neglected floral insect hosts and habitats in Vt.
- Table 2. Notes
- Table 3. Individual Plants for Specialist Bees.
- Table 4. Bees that are not recorded in VT, but likely to be in VT. and their host plants.
- Table 5. Biophysical regions of Vermont
Month(s) to Observe (VT) | Host/Habitat (Genus / Group) | Host Value | iNat Coverage | Key Genera Supported (Vermont) |
March–April | Salix spp. (Sandbar willow - Salix exigua and other Salix spp.) Native Willows are among the top insect-host genera in Vermont. | Very High | Very Low | Andrena, Colletes, Perdita, Osmia, Nomada (cleptoparasites). Hosts hundreds of moths, flies, beetles, and sawflies. Note: Salix interior blooms May - July, but the fairy bee only seems to be active late June - July |
April | Populus spp. (aspens & poplars) | High | Low | Andrena, Osmia, Colletes, Nomada. Hosts many moth species + leaf miners. |
April–May | Viola spp. (native woodland & wetland violets) | High | Low | Andrena, Colletes, Halictus, Small sweat bees (Lasioglossum), Masked bees (Hylaeus). Required hosts for fritillaries. |
May–June | Bog / Fen shrubs: Vaccinium / Ericaceae (blueberries, cranberries, Deerberry, leatherleaf - Vaccinium, Chamaedaphne). Also consider commercial blueberry grower sites. | High / Very High | Very Low / Extremely Low | Andrena, Colletes, Osmia, Lasioglossum Halictus, Hylaeus. Hosts: Carex, Parnassia, orchids, calciphiles. Insects that are often absent elsewhere. |
May–June | Lupinus (lupines, e.g., Lupinus perennis where present) | Andrena, Colletes, Eucera, Melitta (if present regionally) | ||
May–June | Fabaceae - Native lupines & other natives (if present) | Andrena, Eucera, Colletes | ||
May–July | Fabaceae (legumes broadly; e.g., Trifolium, native Lespedeza) | Andrena, Lasioglossum, Halictus, Bombus, Nomada | ||
May–July | Carex and graminoids (sedges, rushes) - habitat focus. | Very High | Very Low | Lasioglossum, Halictus, Hylaeus, Andrena (indirect), Bombus (nesting/foraging landscape). Essential to skipper butterflies, moths, and leafhoppers. |
June | Parnassia (grass-of-Parnassus - calcareous fen specialist) | Andrena, Colletes | ||
June–July | Wetland forbs & fen calciphiles (various forbs) | Andrena, Colletes, Halictus | ||
June–July (short season) | Boreal habitat (dwarf willows, alpine sedges, boreal forbs) | Andrena, Colletes, Bombus, Lasioglossum | ||
July–August | Asteraceae - Cirsium (native thistles) | Andrena, Bombus, Osmia, Melissodes | ||
July–August | Asteraceae - Helianthus (native sunflowers) | Protandrena, Andrena, Colletes, Melissodes | ||
July–September | Powerline corridors & old fields (native composites & legumes) | Andrena, Bombus, Lasioglossum, Melissodes | ||
August–September | Asteraceae - Solidago (goldenrods) | Andrena, Colletes, Perdita, Melissodes, Bombus, Epeolus (cleptoparasites) | ||
August–September | Native Goldenrods & late composites (broad Asteraceae group) | Andrena, Colletes, Perdita, Melissodes, Bombus | ||
September | Asteraceae - Symphyotrichum (asters) | Andrena, Colletes, Perdita, Bombus | ||
? | Betula spp (Birches) | Moderate-high | Moderate | Strong moth and beetle associations. |
? | Powerline fields | Moderate | Moderate | Can hold rare asters, legumes, grasses |
? | Alpine plants | Moderate | Very Low | Very specialized insects |
? | Native Shrubs (Non-showy): (Spiraea alba, Diervilla lonicera, Ceanothus americanus) | Moderate-high | Low | Support specialist moths & pollinators |
Rich Hardwoods | Lots of fun bees on spring ephemerals | |||
For Reference | Wetlands. Several wetland obligates (and many facultative wetland plants) are hosts to specialist bees. | Specialist bees… |
Month(s) to Observe (VT) | Host/Habitat (Genus / Group) | Contains Specialist Bee Species? (Y/N) | Notes (specialists, habitat, visitor type, source highlights) |
March–April | Salix spp. (Sandbar willow - Salix exigua and other Salix spp.) Native Willows are among the top insect-host genera in Vermont. | Y | Willows are top early-season pollen hosts; many Andrena species oligolectic on Salix; Perdita maculigera recorded on sandbar willow in VT (val, Fowler & Droege). |
April | Populus spp. (aspens & poplars) | Y | Early pollen source; some Andrena show Salicaceae preferences; impactful for early-season bees (VAL, Fowler). Common on landscape, uncommon on iNat.Populus is a minor but important early pollen source |
April–May | Viola spp. (native woodland & wetland violets) | Y | Viola specialists (e.g., Andrena violae); lawn violets often mask forest violets (VAL, Fowler). Forest and wetland violets are especially missing. |
May–June | Bog / Fen shrubs: Vaccinium / Ericaceae (blueberries, cranberries, Deerberry, leatherleaf - Vaccinium, Chamaedaphne). Also consider commercial blueberry grower sites. | Y | Ericaceae specialists known (Andrena spp., Colletes) and important in bog/heath habitats (Fowler, VAL). Hosts: Carex, Parnassia, orchids, calciphiles. Fen: Rarest VT habitat = highest specialization. Cranberries and Deerberry are each host to rare bees not yet recorded from Vermont. |
May–June | Lupinus (lupines, e.g., Lupinus perennis where present) | Y | Lupine specialists exist (Perdita, Melitta in some regions); in VT presence limited—check local range (Native Plant Trust, Fowler) |
May–June | Fabaceae - Native lupines & other natives (if present) | Y | Some specialist bees tied to Lupinus and other native legumes regionally; check local occurrences (Fowler, Native Plant Trust) |
May–July | Fabaceae (legumes broadly; e.g., Trifolium, native Lespedeza) | N | Many legumes attract generalist bees; some fabaceae specialists exist regionally but fewer strict oligoleges in VT (various sources) |
May–July | Carex and graminoids (sedges, rushes) - habitat focus. | N | Sedges provide structure and nesting microhabitat; not major pollen hosts but crucial for wetland ecosystems (VAL notes). Sedges: Backbone hosts for wetland & forest insects. Fen & forest sedges are especially missing in iNat postings. |
June | Parnassia (grass-of-Parnassus - calcareous fen specialist) | Y | Fen specialist bees (Andrena parnassiae documented on Parnassia); very high conservation value (Fowler, VAL) |
June–July | Wetland forbs & fen calciphiles (various forbs) | Y | Many fen plants host specialist Andrena species; note sensitive habitat access (Fowler, UMAINE guide) |
June–July (short season) | Boreal habitat (dwarf willows, alpine sedges, boreal forbs) | Y | Boreal/alpine specialists present; high-latitude species and specialists tied to boreal flora (Vermont Atlas of Life, regional studies) |
July–August | Asteraceae - Cirsium (native thistles) | Y | Native Cirsium attract specialists; avoid non-native invasive thistles note (Fowler, VAL) |
July–August | Asteraceae - Helianthus (native sunflowers) | Y | Helianthus associated with specialist species per Fowler; important in open habitats |
July–September | Powerline corridors & old fields (native composites & legumes) | N | Habitat type that concentrates floral resources; supports both generalists and specialists depending on flora present (UMaine guide) |
August–September | Asteraceae - Solidago (goldenrods) | Y | Solidago hosts many specialist bees (one of top genera for specialists per Fowler) |
August–September | Native Goldenrods & late composites (broad Asteraceae group) | Y | Asteraceae as a family hosts large numbers of specialist bee spp.; goldenrods especially important (Fowler) |
September | Asteraceae - Symphyotrichum (asters) | Y | Late-season important pollen resources; specialists known (Fowler) |
? | Betula spp (Birches) | Gray birch & paper birch under-posted | |
? | Powerline fields | Excellent insect diversity | |
? | Alpine plants | Extremely short season | |
? | Native Shrubs (Non-showy): (Spiraea alba, Diervilla lonicera, Ceanothus americanus) | Bloom briefly or inconspicuously | |
For Reference | Wetlands. Several wetland obligates (and many facultative wetland plants) are hosts to specialist bees. | Several wetland obligates (and many facultative wetland plants) are hosts to specialist bees. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and Water Lilies (Family Nymphaeaceae) are both reported as host plants for rare and uncommon bee species - the Pickerelweed Longhorn (Melissodes apicatus) and Water-lily Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum nelumbonis) respectively. A number of other uncommon to rare bees appear to be associated with wetlands, but not particular flowers. The Nelumbo Masked Bee (Hylaeus nelumbonis), Ocean Grove Metallic-Sweat bee (Lasioglossum oceanicum), and several others appear to be confined to wetlands. Wooded wetlands contain unique plant-bee associations—for example, Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and (Colletes banksi) and Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) and Kalmia Miner Bee (Andrena kalmiae), as well as abundant standing dead wood, which is an important nesting resource for many bees. | |
For Reference | VT F&W Vermont Bird and Pollinator-Friendly Perennial Species List |
Month(s) to Observe (VT) | Host/Habitat (Genus / Group) | Key Genera Supported (Vermont) | Contains Specialist Bee Species? (Y/N) |
March–April | Willows | Y | |
May-June | Shrubby Dogwoods (the Swida group) | Y | |
Late May-June | He-Huckleberry (Lyonia), fond of wet forests and marshes, and found primarily in southwestern VT | Y | |
Late June/July-Aug/Sept. L.T. June-Aug | Loosestrifes. So far most of the recent VT records have been associated with Fringed Loosestrife (L. ciliata), though Whorled Loosestrife (L. quadrifolia) and Swamp Candles (L. terrestris) are also used. It is unclear if the non-native Lysimachia species are of any value to these bees. | VCE Specialist Bees: Loosestrife Bees (Genus Macropis). They are unique in collecting oils from our native Loosestrifes (Genus Lysimachia) | Y |
June-Oct | Thistle | Y | |
June-Aug. Some through Sept/Oct | Clammy Ground Cherry (Physalis), also tomatillos and domesticated Ground Cherries | Y | |
June-Sept | Pickerelweed | Y | |
July-Sept (Native), May-Sept (non native) | Bellflowers, native and non-native | Y | |
Late July-Sept | Sunflowers | Y | |
Late July-Sept/Oct | Goldenrod | Y | |
Aug-Oct | Asters | Y | |
See by plant below | VCE Plants hosting a single bee species. See individual plant species below. | VCE Plants hosting a single bee species. See individual plant species below. | |
March–April | Spring Beauty | Spring Beauty Mining Bee (Andrena erigeniae | Y |
Mid-to-late April | Trout Lily | Trout-lily Mining Bee (Andrena erythronii) | Y |
April–May | Toothworts | Mustard Miner Bee (Andrena arabis) | Y |
April-May | Geranium | Cranesbill Miner (Andrena distans) | Y |
Late April into May | Bellwort | Y | |
April-June | May have a preference for the blue violet species. | Violet Miner (Andrena violae) | Y |
May-June | Rockcress | Mustard Miner Bee (Andrena arabis) | Y |
May-June Some spp. July-Aug | Golden Alexander | Golden-Alexanders Mining Bee (Andrena ziziae) | Y |
May/June - Fall | Appalachian Barren-Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides) & Cinquefoils (Potentilla) | Andrena ziziaeformis | Y |
Late May-July | Rhododendron | Azalea Mining Bee (Andrena cornelli) | Y |
Early to mid June | Virginia Waterleaf | Waterleaf Mining Bee (Andrena geranii) | Y |
June-October | Viper's-Buglosses (Genus Echium) | Viper's Bugloss Small-Mason (Hoplitis anthocopoides) | Y |
June/July-Sept/Oct | Common evening-primrose | Evening Primrose Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum oenotherae) | Y |
June-July | American Chestnut | Y | |
June/July-Aug/Sept | Wild Bergamot | Beebalm Shortface (Dufourea monardae) | Y |
Late June-July | Winter squash or Zucchini | Pruinose Squash Bee (Peponapis Pruinosa) | Y |
Late June-July | Only known from a few sites in VT | Squash Longhorn-Cuckoo (Triepeolus remigatus) | Y |
Late Aug-Sept | Fen Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca). It is limited to fens. | Parnassia Miner (Andrena parnassiae) | Y |
Bee | Host Plant (or host bee) | Common name |
Andrena (Trachandrena) rehni | Castanea dentata | American Chestnut |
Andrena uvulariae | Uvularia grandiflora (plant seeds in spring), Uvularia sessilifolia, Uvularia perfoliata. | merrybells or bellworts, include Large-flowered bellwort, Sessile-leaf bellwort, and Perfoliate bellwort. |
Perdita (Alloperdita) novaengliae | Lyonia ligustrina | He-Huckleberry, or maleberry |
Habropoda laboriosa | Vaccinium | Blueberries |
Epeoloides pilosulus | Cleptoparasite of Macropis spp./ (L. ciliata),(L. quadriflora), and (L. terrestris) | Macropis needs oils to feed their young, with common host plants including Fringed Loosestrife (L. ciliata), Prairie Loosestrife (L. quadriflora), and Swamp Candles (L. terrestris), though L. ciliata seems a key one in the East |
Triepeolus obliterates | Associated with Melissodes apicatus (Pickerelweed Longhorn Bee). Plant host for host bee (M.a.) is Pontederia cordata | Obliterated Longhorn-Cuckoo,(Pickerelweed) |
Nomada rodecki | Cleptoparasite of Melitta spp. | |
Colletes productus | Lyonia ligustrina. Likely host of Epeolus inornatus | He-Huckleberry, or maleberry |
Colletes validus | Vaccinium. Sand nesting, a lower Connecticut River Valley search is warranted. | cranberry, blueberry, bilberry, lingonberry, and huckleberry. |
Sphecodes banksii | Possibly a Cleptoparasite of Lasioglossum vierecki | L.v. is a generalist bee |
Anthidium (Anthidium) florentinum | Wool carder bee: strong preferences for flowers in the Asteraceae (sunflower/daisy family), Lamiaceae (mint family), and Fabaceae (pea/bean family). | |
Pseudoanthidium (Pseudoanthidium) nanu | Wool carder bee: primarily uses flowers from the Asteraceae family (thistles, knapweeds, sunflowers, etc.) as food sources, including Arctium, Centaurea, Cirsium, Grindelia, Helianthus, Inula, and Onopordum. They also visit legumes like Lotus corniculatus and utilize various plant stems (like thistles, raspberry | |
Stelis (Dolichostelis) louisae | Presumed host: Megachile campanulae. Plant: Campanula | M.c. uses Bellflowers (Campanulaspecies), especially Tall Bellflower, for pollen, though it also visits other plants like Milkweeds, Goldenrods, Mallows, and Mountain Mints, and uses plant resins for nesting. |
Coelioxys (Paracoelioxys) funerarius | Cleptoparasitic on Megachile | |
Coelioxys (Xerocoelioxys) immaculatus | Likely associated with Megachile addenda | |
Chelostoma (Foveosmia) campanularum | Campanulaceae | Bellflower family |
Osmia (Diceratosmia) conjuncta | Snail-nesting species. | |
Macropis (Macropis) ciliata | Yellow Loosestrife plants (genus Lysimachia) for vital floral oils and pollen to feed their young, with specific host plants including Fringed Loosestrife (L. ciliata), Swamp Loosestrife (L. terrestris), and Fourflower Loosestrife (L. quadrifolia), though they gather nectar from other flowers like Dogbanes (Apocynum). | |
Melitta (Cilissa) americana | Cranberry Specialist | |
Melitta (cilissa) eickworti | Vaccinium stamineum L. | Deerberry |
Biophysical regions of Vermont
Champlain Valley | Chittenden County (Northern Valley): Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Jericho, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston, Winooski, St. George, Richmond, Westford. Addison County (Central/Southern Valley): Middlebury, Vergennes, Addison, Bridport, Bristol, Cornwall, Ferrisburgh, Leicester, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven, Panton, Shoreham, Weybridge, Whiting. Grand Isle County (Islands): Alburgh, Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, North Hero, South Hero. Other Towns: Charlotte, Hinesburg, Starksboro, and areas near the lake, like Panton, Orwell, and parts of the Otter Creek flow. |
Champlain Hills | Covers hilly terrain between the Champlain Valley and Green Mountains, including towns like Underhill, Cambridge, Fletcher, Fairfax, and Westford |
Taconic Mountain Vermont Valley | The Vermont Valley is a lowland region between the Taconic Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. Bennington: Located at the convergence of the Vermont Valley and the Walloomsac River valley. Manchester: Nestled in a valley between the Green and Taconic mountains. Pittsford (including the village of Florence): The valley floor generally falls within this biophysical region. Rutland (City and Town): Situated in a broad valley carved by Otter Creek, between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range. The Taconic Mountains region runs parallel to the Vermont Valley to the west, extending from near Brandon in the north to the Massachusetts and New York borders in the south. Danby: The mountains broaden north of here, featuring prominent peaks. Dorset: Home to Dorset Mountain, one of the tallest peaks in the range. Hubbardton: Location of the Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park. Mendon: The area where Killington meets Chittenden and Mendon is near the Taconic range. Mount Tabor: The region extends south of Danby through here. Pawlet (specifically North Pawlet Hills): Features rounded, forested peaks in the northern Taconics. Poultney: The area around Lake St. Catherine here contains extensive slate quarries and is part of the range foothills. Sunderland: Chiselville village and Kelley Stand place are in this town located in the Taconic range. Tinmouth: Tinmouth Mountain overlooks the Valley of Vermont to the east of this town. Wells: The ridgeline of Saint Catherine Mountain is visible from here. |
Southern Green Mountains | The Southern Green Mountains biophysical area spans across parts of Bennington, Windham, Rutland, Windsor, and Addison counties: Andover, Arlington, Bennington, Brattleboro, Dorset, Gifford Woods (State Park in Sherburne, which is now incorporated into Killington), Jamaica, Killington (formerly Sherburne), Londonderry, Ludlow, Manchester, Mendon, Newfane, Plymouth, Pownall, Putney, Shrewsbury, Stratton, Townshend, Weston, Wilmington |
Northern Green Mountains | Towns in Vermont's Northern Green Mountains region, often highlighted along the Green Mountain Byway, include Stowe, Waterbury, Cambridge, Hyde Park, Johnson, Morristown, Morrisville, Jeffersonville, and Waitsfield |
Southern Vermont Piedmont | The Southern Vermont Piedmont (SP) covers towns in southeastern Vermont, characterized by rolling hills and river valleys, including areas around the Deerfield River, with key towns like Brattleboro, Dummerston, Putney, Newfane, Marlboro, Wilmington, Halifax, and parts of Bennington County. |
Northern Vermont Piedmont | The Northern Vermont Piedmont (NP) covers central Vermont's rolling hills, including major towns like Montpelier, Barre, and surrounding areas contrasting with the mountains (Green Mountains/Champlain Valley), featuring diverse forests and rivers, with towns like Marshfield, Cabot, Wolcott, Eden, and parts of Berlin, East Montpelier, and Stowe fitting within its hilly landscape. |
Northeastern Highlands | The majority of towns in the Northeastern Highlands biophysical region of Vermont are located in the counties of Essex, Orleans, and Caledonia, a region often referred to as the Northeast Kingdom. The Victory Management Unit, which includes Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area and Victory State Forest, covers a large portion of the southern part of this region. Averill, Bloomfield, Brighton (includes the village of Island Pond), Brunswick, Burke, Canaan, Charleston (eastern half is in this region), Concord, East Haven, Ferdinand, Granby, Guildhall, Kirby, Lemington, Lewis, Lunenburg, Lyndon (includes the village of Lyndonville), Maidstone, Morgan, Newark, Newport , Norton, Sheffield, Stannard, Sutton, Victory, Waterford, Westmore . |
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