Think pollinator season is over? Think again! Discover the epic fall festival happening on wild asters - where native bees run the ultimate celebration circuit, and 'weedy' flowers throw the most important parties of the year. From specialized mining bees to migrating monarchs, everyone's hitting this festival scene!

www.secretpollinators.com

KEY SOURCES

Aster mining bee

• Espinoza, A. C., Urban-Mead, K. R., Buckner, M. A., Flórez-Gómez, N., Kueneman, J. G., & Danforth, B. N. (2022). Biology of Andrena (Callandrena sensu lato) asteris Robertson (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), an eastern aster specialist that makes a very deep nest. Northeastern Naturalist, 29(4), 474–491. — first description of nest architecture, immature stages, and pollen usage; field study near Cortland, NY, September–October 2020; previously nesting behavior had never been studied.
• LaBerge, W. E. (1967). Revision of the bees of the genus Andrena, subgenus Callandrena. — original pollen records on Symphyotrichum and Solidago.
• Larkin, L. L., Neff, J. L., & Simpson, B. B. (2008). The evolution of a pollen diet: host choice and diet breadth of Andrena bees. Apidologie, 39, 133–145.
• Bees of Canada species account, Andrena asteris — solitary, ground-nesting, narrow oligolecty, overwinters as a mature larva; brood parasites Nomada banksi and Sphecodes johnsonii observed at aggregations.
• Watching Bees, Andrena asteris species account — one generation per year, active late August through October; aggregates in compacted soils such as boat ramps and earthen parking lots; females plug nests on departure and sonicate back into the soil on return.

Asteraceae specialist bees generally

• Fowler, J. (2016). Specialist Bees of the Northeast: Host Plants and Habitat Conservation. Northeastern Naturalist, 23(2), 305–320. jarrodfowler.com/specialist_bees.html — Asteraceae supports the most pollen specialist bee species of any plant family in every US region.
• Holm, H. Specialist Bees. pollinatorsnativeplants.com — Andrena hirticincta, A. nubecula, Protandrena andrenoides as oligoleges of Symphyotrichum, Solidago, and related genera.
• Minnesota Native Bees, Andrena genus account. beesmn.org — autumnal Andrena species are Asteraceae oligoleges and often hold their wings at a 45° angle while visiting flowers.
• Danforth, B. N., Minckley, R. L., & Neff, J. L. (2019). The Solitary Bees: Biology, Evolution, Conservation. Princeton University Press.

Asters as late-season resources

• Mader, E., Shepherd, M., Vaughan, M., Black, S. H., & LeBuhn, G. (2011). Attracting Native Pollinators. Xerces Society / Storey Publishing.
• Illinois Wildflowers, Symphyotrichum species accounts. illinoiswildflowers.info
• Timberlake, T. P., Vaughan, I. P., & Memmott, J. (2019). Phenology of farmland floral resources reveals seasonal gaps in nectar availability for bumblebees. Journal of Applied Ecology, 56(7), 1585–1596. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13403

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