In appreciation of sunflowers

The first open Helianthus petiolaris flower I saw in Albuquerque in 2021 was on May 29. Since then, they are blooming nonstop in my garden (update: final plant stopped blooming after a hard freeze around December 8). The diversity they attracted this year is incredible!

Bees

• Halictus tripartitus and ligatus
• Lasioglossum (2 or 3 subgenera)
• Agapostemon
• Arizona Nomia
• Megachile (3 or 4 subgenera)
• Melissodes (mostly Melissodes agilis)
• Svastra obliqua
• Bombus pensylvanicus and morrisoni
• Coelioxys
• Apis mellifera

Wasps

• Stictiellina (sand wasps)
• Scolia dubia and nobilitata
• Polistes aurifer and dominula
• Cerceris (3 species)
• Sceliphron caementarium
• Trypoxylon
• Ectemnius
• Chalcididae
• Pteromalinae
• Braconidae (multiple)
• Stenodynerus
• Ancistrocerus
• Philanthus gibbosus
• Velvet ant
• Harvester and pyramid ants

Beetles

• Lady beetles
• Acmaeodera
• Nemognatha
• Chauliognathus lewisii lewisii
• Checkered melon beetle

Flies

• Copestylum avidum and lentum
• Villini
• Trupanea
• Thaumatomyia
• Toxomerus marginatus
• Eristalis arbustorum and stipator
• Eupeodes volucris
• Neotephritis finalis
• Mallophora fautrix
• Scaeva affinis

Butterflies and moths

• Variegated fritillary
• Queen/monarch
• American sunflower moth
• Inchworms (Geometridae)
• Bordered patch
• Oranges and sulphurs and whites
• Tobacco budworm moth
• Pseudanarta singula (moth)

Other arthropods

• Thomisidae (crab spiders)
• Weevils
• Mirini
• Harmostes
• Lacewings
• Stink bugs
• Leptoglossus

Birds

• House finch
• Lesser goldfinch
• Assorted sparrows/juncos

Posted on 13 September, 2021 16:57 by egordon88