California Central Valley Pollinators (in progress)

Introduction

California’s Central Valley is not a hotspot for bee or butterfly biodiversity compared to the southwestern deserts or even the Coast Ranges. In fact, many bees and butterflies seem to have a distribution in the hills and mountains while avoiding the valley. This list for ecological and agricultural purposes. Many bees seem to hug the riparian zones in the valley and little attention has been paid to them. Robbin Thorp (UCDavis) and Joan Leong have studied vernal pool bees, but a metapopulation analysis of their dynamics is a distant prospect.

The legendary work of Andy Moldenke included efforts to sample pollinators from every plant in sight. More recently Claire Kremen (Princeton), Bob Bugg (UCDavis), Robbin Thorp and coworkers are trying to assess the ecosystem service value of native pollinators in the Capay and Central Valleys.

The phenology and distribution of butterflies has been the 30 year work of Art Shapiro (UCDavis). Many moths have been studied by Jerry Powell (UCBerkeley).

The checklist of pollinators, gleaned mostly from the systematics literature is sure to grow, and I hope to add ecological detail later.

Birds

Trochilidae, hummingbirds

Archilochus alexandri, Black-chinned Hummingbird Green cap, throat violet/black in male, pale in female

Archilochus anna, Anna Hummingbird Male rose head, female with red throat flecks

 

Hymenoptera

Sphecidae, sphecid wasps

Other wasps

Colletidae, mason bees

Colletes nevadensis,

Colletes kincaidii,

Colletes disseptus,

Colletes gaudialis,

Colletes pascoensis,

Colletes mertensiae,

Colletes compactus hesperius,

Colletes simulans nevadensis,

Colletes fulgidus,

Colletes slevini,

Colletes consors,

Colletes californicus,

Hylaeus,

Halictidae, sweat bees

Halictus farinosus,

Dialictus,

Evylaeus,

Sphecodes,

Lasioglossum,

Nomia melanderi, alkali bee

Agapostemon femoratus, a metallic green bee

Agapostemon melliventris,

Agapostemon texanus,

Andrenidae, miner bees

Andrena,

Andrena (Diandrena) parachalybea,

Andrena (Diandrena)blennospermatis,

Andrena (Diandrena) submoesta,

Andrena (Diandrena) puthua,

Andrena (Diandrena) cuneilabris,

Andrena (Diandrena) foxii,

Andrena (Diandrena) sperryi,

Andrena (Diandrena) eothina,

Andrena (Diandrena) cyanosoma,

Andrena (Diandrena) macswaini,

Andrena (Onagrandrena) convallaria convallaria,

Andrena (Onagrandrena) deserticola,

Andrena (Onagrandrena) respertina,

Andrena (Hesperandrena) limnanthis,

Andrena (Hesperandrena) baeriae,

Andrena (Hesperandrena) duboisi,

Andrena (Hesperandrena) lativentris,

Andrena (Hesperandrena ) spp., associated with Lasthenia

Andrena (Tylandrena) layiae,

Andrena (Plastandrena) prunorum,

Andrena (Melandrena),

Andrena (Euandrena) caerulea

Panurginus atriceps,

Panurginus occidentalis,

Calliopsis,

Megachilidae, leafcutter bees

Megachile

Osmia,

Hoplitis,

Heteranthidium timberlakei,

Anthidium atripes,

Anthidium collectum,

Anthidium edwardsii,

Anthidium jocosum,

Anthidium maculosum,

Anthidium mormonum,

Anthidium pallidiclypeum,

Anthidium palmarum,

Anthidium utahense,

Callanthidium illustre,

Dianthidium dubium dubium,

Dianthidium parvum schwarzi,

Dianthidium platyurum mohavense,

Dianthidium pudicum consimile,

Dianthidium ulkei ulkei,

Anthidiellum notatum robertsoni,

Heriades occidentalis,

Chelostoma californicum,

Chelostoma phaceliae,

Chelostoma rubifloris,

Hoplitis producta,

Hoplitis colei,

Hoplitis grinnelli,

Hoplitis hypocrita,

Hoplitis albifrons maura,

Hoplitis fulgida platyura,

Ashmeadiella cactorum basalis,

Ashmeadiella sonora,

Ashmeadiella bucconis denticulata,

Ashmeadiella foveata,

Ashmeadiella aridula astragali,

Ashmeadiella californica californica,

Ashmeadiella timberlakei solida,

Ashmeadiella australis,

Anthophoridae,

Xylocopa brasilianorum, carpenter bee

Xylocopa tabaniformis, carpenter bee: likes to nest in redwood!

Xylocopa californica, carpenter bee

Ceratina acantha, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina arizonensis, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina dallatoreana, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina micheneri, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina nanula, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina pacifica, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina punctigena, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina sequoiae, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina tejonensis, dwarf carpenter bee

Ceratina timberlakei, dwarf carpenter bee

Peponapis pruinosa, squash bee

Anthophora urbana,

Nomada, cuckoo bee

Synhalonia,

Diadasia nigrifrons,

Melissodes,

Xeromelecta,

Apidae

Bombus vosnesenskii, yellow-faced bumblebee

Bombus crotchii, bumblebee

Bombus californicus, bumblebee

Bombus sonorus, bumblebee

Bombus occidentalis, bumblebee

Bombus bifarius, bumblebee

Bombus edwardsii, bumblebee

Bombus mixtus, bumblebee

Bombus vandykei, bumblebee

Bombus huntii, bumblebee

Bombus caluginosus, bumblebee

Bombus sitkensis, bumblebee

Apis mellifera, honey bee

Lepidoptera

Papilionidae: swallowtails

Battus philenor, pipe-vine swallowtail: black above, postmedial orange spots on vhw, f to c, eats Aristolochia Papilio zelicaon, anise swallowtail: like rutulus but smaller, darker, dhw orange eye spot complete, f-c, eats Apiaceae (carrot family)

Papilio rutulus, western tiger swallowtail: yellow with black stripes, incomplete eyespot, c, eats riparian trees

Pieridae: whites, sulfurs and orange tips

Pieris rapae, cabbage white: white with a few black spots, a, eats Brassicaceae (mustard)

Pieris protodice, checkered white: marginal fw veins darkly marked, like checker board, c, eats Brassicaceae

Euchloe ausonides, dappled marble: fw white with brown tip, hw checkered white/brown , c, eats Brassicaceae

Anthocharis sara, CA orange tip: white with distal fw orange tip, f, eats Brassicaceae

Colias eurytheme, orange sulfur: yellow with orange flush above, white to greenish below, a, eats Fabaceae(pea)

Danaidae: monarchs

Danaus plexippus, monarch: large, orange, black veins and margins, c, eats Asclepiadaceae (milkweed)

Satyridae: satyrs and wood nymphs

Coenonympha tullia, CA ringlet: smallish, light grey, with a small hw spot weak bouncy flight, f, eats Poaceae

Nymphalidae: brush-footed butterflies

Phyciodes mylitta, mylitta crescent: small checkerspot-like with vhw silvery markings , c, eats Asteraceae

Nymphalis antiopa, mourning cloak: dark with creamy marginal band, f-c, eats Salicaceae

Vanessa atalanta, red admiral: brown with red dhw marginal band and dfw submedial band , c, eats Urticaceae

Vanessa cardui, painted lady: brown and orange with dfw apical white V pointing forward , c, eats everything!

Vanessa annabella, west coast lady: like smaller cardui except inner arm of V orange not white, c, eats Malvaceae

Precis coenia, buckeye: 2 eyespots/wing, 2 median red bars dfw, c, eats Scrophulariaceae, Plantaginaceae, Verbenaceae

Limenitis lorquini, orange-tip admiral: long white postmedian band on dfhw, orange spot on dfw tip, c, eats Salicaeae (willow)

Lycaenidae: coppers, blues and hairstreaks (hairstreaks usually have hair-thin tails)

Atlides halesus, great blue hairstreak: purplish, large, c , eats Loranthaceae (mistletoe)

Strymon melinu pudica, common hairstreak: grey above with orange spot on hw near tail, a, eats Malvaceae (mallow)

Lycaena helloides, purplish copper: purplish copper above, orangish below, a, eats Polygonaceae (knotweed)

Everes comyntas, eastern tailed blue: lilac blue (female brownish) with tail, c, eats Fabaceae (pea)

Plebejus acmon, acmon blue: lilac blue above, orange submarginal band on hw, c-a, eats Fabaceae (pea), Polygonaceae (knotwood)

Glaucopsyche lygdamus, silvery blue: blue above with black margin, light below with black median spots , c, eats Fabaceae

Hesperidae: skippers

Pyrgus scriptura, least checkered skipper: dark grey dw with white checking forming an x on dfw, c, eats Malvaceae

Pyrgus communis, common checkered skipper:grey dw with white checking , c, eats Malvaceae

Pholisora catullus, sooty wing: sooty black throughout, tiny white post median spots on fhw , c, eats Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae

Erynnis persius, persius dusky-wing: dark brown w pale submarginal spots, f, eats perhaps Fabaceae, Salicaceae

Erynnis tristis, sad dusky-wing: dark brown w pale submarginal spots + thin white hw margin, c, eats Fagaceae

Hylephila phylaeus, fiery skipper: orange w brown border, uhw dull w circle of dark spots, a, eats Poaceae

Atalopedes campestris, field skipper: male orange brown w fw median dark spot, brown margins, c, eats Poaceae

Polites sabuleti, sandhill skipper:tawny yellow w brown border above, more yellow below, a, eats Poaceae

Sphingidae, hawkmoths

Smerinthus cerisyi, eyed sphinx

Eumorpha achemon, Achemon Sphinx

Pachysphinx occidentalis, Western Poplar Sphinx

Hyles lineata, White-lined Sphinx

Manduca sexta, Tomato Hornworm

Noctuidae

Geometridae

Diptera

Syrphidae, hoverflies

Scaeva,

Eristalis,

Bombyliidae, beeflies

other flies

Coleoptera

Cantharidae,

Meloidae,

Cerambicidae,

Daytidae,

Melyridae,

Chrysomelidae,

Elateridae,

Some useful pollination literature

Barth, F. G. 1991. Insects and Flowers: the biology of a partnership. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Boucher, D. H. ed. 1985. The Biology of Mutualism. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Buchmann, S. L. and G. P. Nabhan 1996. The Forgotten Pollinators. Island Press, Washington, D. C.

Cronquist, A. 1988. The Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants. The New York Botanical Garden,

New York.

Dafni, A. and C. O’Toole 1994. Pollination syndromes in the Mediterranean: generalizations and peculiarities. pp

125-135 In M. Arianoutsou and R. H. Groves (eds.) Plant –Animal Interactions in Mediterranean-Type

Systems. Kluwer, Dordrecht.

Frankie, G. W., R. W. Thorp, L. E. Newstrom-Lloyd, M. A. Rizzardi, J. F. Barthell, T. L. Griswold, J. Kim and S.

Kappagoda 1998. Monitoring solitary bees in modified wildland habitats: implications for bee ecology and

conservation. Environmental Entomology 27: 1137-1148.

Grant, V. and K. A. Grant 1965. Flower Pollination in the Phlox Family. Columbia University Press, New York.

Grigarick, A. A., and L. A. Stange 1968. The pollen-collecting bees of the Anthidiini of California; Hymenoptera:

Megachilidae. University of California Press, Berkeley,.

Heinrich, B. 1979. Bumblebee Economics. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.

Hodges, R. W. 1971. The Moths of America North of Mexico Fascicle 21 Sphingoidea. E. W. Classey, London.

Hurd, P. D. 1955. The carpenter bees of California (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). University of California Press,

Berkeley.

Hurd, P. D., and E. G. Linsley 1975. The principal Larrea bees of the southwestern United States (Hymenoptera,

Apoidea). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.

Hurd, P. D., and C. D. Michener 1955. The megachiline bees of California (Hymenoptera: Meogchilidae).

University of California Press, Berkeley.

Kearns, C. A. and D. W. Inoye 1993. Techniques for Pollination Biologists. University of Colorado Press,

Niwot, Colorado.

Krombein, K. V. 1967. Trap-nesting Wasps and Bees: Life Histories, Nests, and Associates. Smithsonian Press,

Washington, D. C.

Krombein, K. V. 1979. Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico. Smithsonian Institution Press,

Washington

Michener, C. D. 1979. Biogeography of bees. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 66:277-347.

Michener, C. D. 2000. Bees of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Michener, C. D., R. J. McGinley and B. N. Danforth 1994. The Bee Genera of North and Central America

(Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.

Moldenke, A, R. 1975. Niche specialization and species diversity along an altitudinal transect in California.

Oecologia 21:219-242.

Moldenke, A, R. 1976. California pollination ecology and vegetation types. Phytologia 34:305-361.

Moldenke, A, R. 1979. Host-plant coevolution and the diversity of bees in relation to the flora of North America.

Phytologia 43:357-419.

Percival, M. S. 1965. Floral Biology. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

Powell, J. A. and C. L. Hogue 1979. California Insects. UNiversity of California Press, Berkeley.

Proctor, M., P. Yeo and A. Lack 1996. The Natural History of Pollination. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.

Real, L. ed. 1983. Pollination Biology. Academic Press, San Diego.

Roberts, R. B. 1973a. Bees of northwestern America : Agapostemon (Hymenoptera : Halictidae). Agricultural

Experiment Station Oregon State University, Corvallis.

Roberts, R. D. 1973b. Bees of northwestern America : Halictus (Hymenoptera : Halictidae). Agricultural

Experiment Station Oregon State University, Corvallis.

Roubik, D. W. 1989. Ecology and Natural History of Tropical Bees. Cmbridge University Press, Cambridge.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford.

Schaffer, W. M., D. B. Jensen, D. E. Hobbs, J. Gurevitch, J. R. Todd and M. V. Schaffer 1979. Competition,

foraging energetics and the cost of sociality in three species of bees. Ecology 60:976-987.

Schaffer, W. M., D. W. Zeh, S. L. Buchmann, S. Kleinhaus, M. V. Schaffer and J. Antrim 1983. Competition for

nectar between introduced honeybees and native North American bees and ants. Ecology 64:564-577.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford.

Shapiro, A. M. 1974. The butterfly fauna of the Sacramento Valley, California. J. Res. Lepid. 13:73-82,115-

122,137-148.

Stephen, W. P. 1954. A revision of the Bee Genus Colletes in America North of Mexico. University of Kansas

Science Bulletin 36:149-527.

Thorp, R. W., D. S. Horning and L. L. Dunning 1983. Bumble Bees and Cuckoo Bumble Bees of California.

University of California Press, Berkeley.

Thorp, R. W., and J. M. Leong 1998. Specialist bee pollinators of showy vernal pool flowers, pp. 166-179 in

Ecology, Conservation and Management of Vernal Pool Ecosystems- Proceedings from a 1996

Conference, edited by C. W. Witham, E. T. Bauder, D. Belk, W. R. Ferren and R. Ornduff. California Native Plant

Society, Sacramento

Weberling, F. 1989. Morphology of flowers and inflorescences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Westerkamp, C. 1991. Honeybees are poor pollinators – why? Plant Systematics and Evolution 177:71-75.