Explanation of Names
Author: Robertson, 1891. Named for a plant other than its pollen host.
Identification
Male S8 distinctively bifurcating at its apex.
Facial foveae thin. Host plant has pink pollen.
Range
Minnesota to New York, south to North Carolina and Georgia.
Food
It is an oligolege of spring beauties
Claytonia including C. virginica despite being named for a different plant
Erigenia, often found near spring beauties. The Hosts section on its
Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Remarks
Visits flowers of
Claytonia virginica and other
Claytonia spp. for pollen. It also visits
Erigenia bulbosa and other flowers for nectar.
Print References
Davis, L. W., and W. E. LaBerge. 1975. The nest biology of the bee Andrena (Ptilandrena) erigeniae Robertson (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae). Illinois Natural History Survey Biological Notes no. 95: 16 pp.