As the common name implies, this is a Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) specialist. Vermont records are sparse and limited to large Lake Champlain marshes, though the host plant - and another specialist bee - are widely distributed in Vermont.
A taxonomical murky Longhorn Cuckoo (Triepeolus) has been found in association with this species in Massachusetts – we would be very interested in any reports of this genus near pickerelweed and/or nesting sites of the Pickerelweed Long-horned Bee.
The Pickerelweed Shortface (Dufourea novaeangliae) is another Pickerelweed specialist that is much more widespread and common in Vermont.
Identification: So far this is the only long-horned bee caught on Pickerelweed in Vermont, though the flowers are broadly attractive to other bees so ID should not be made on this association alone.
Similar Species: This species is unique among Vermont long-horned bees in that the hair bands on the abdomen are at the apical (rear) end of each segment. Other species have the hair bands arched through the middle of each segment.
Global Status: Not Ranked
Vermont Status: Not Ranked
For more information, visit the following links:
Discover Life
Living Atlas Species Page
Distribution:
To see the global distribution, check out the iNaturalist account, and toggle the GBIF layer on the map.
Unless otherwise specified, specimen photos in the grid are courtesy of Margarita Miklasevskaja at PCYU with funding from NSERC-CANPOLIN.
