Pollinator of the Week: Trout Lily Miner Bee (Andrena erythronii)
Active Period: March-May
Host plants: Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum), white trout lily (Erythronium albidum)
The Trout Lily Miner Bee is most closely associated with Trout lily flowers but has been observed visiting flowers of several different families. A relatively large Mining Bee, this species can be recognized by the abundant medium-long hairs that are pale brown on the thorax and form indistinct bands on the abdomen.
Photo by Denis Doucet
Photo by bob15noble
Red-necked False Blister Beetle (Ischnomera ruficollis)
Active March through May
This is a beautiful black beetle with a bright, burnt orange thorax that resembles a blister beetle but is not a true blister beetle. However, these beetles also release the same chemical compound that can cause painful blisters. Red-necked False Blister Beetle feeds on the pollen of some of our early spring wildflowers like Bloodroot, Trout Lily and more. Instead of searching for nectar, these beetles eat the pollen directly from the plant, inadvertently collecting and transferring pollen as they browse.
