Targeted Flora for Key and under-reported Insect Observation and iNaturalist Posting

Directory of neglected floral insect hosts and habitats in Vermont. 

2026 Inverting Goal: Produce more targeted documentation of insects on neglected floral hosts, habitats.

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.
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, leatherleaf - Vaccinium, Chamaedaphne)	High / Very High	Very Low / Extremely Low	Andrena, Colletes, Osmia, Lasioglossum Halictus, Hylaeus. Hosts: Carex, Parnassia, orchids, calciphiles. Insects 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

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, leatherleaf - Vaccinium, Chamaedaphne)	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.
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