Penstemon-specialist
Guides
Pseudomasaris vespoides
pollen wasp
Pseudomasaris vespoides is a solitary pollen wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Masarinae. Unlike social vespids that provision nests with prey, females construct mud nests and provision cells exclusively with pollen and nectar, resembling bee-like behavior. The species is strongly associated with Penstemon flowers, from which females collect pollen. Males are distinguished by their conspicuously long, clubbed antennae and exhibit hilltopping behavior on elevated terrain to locate females.
Sympistis major
Sympistis major is a noctuid moth native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. The species has undergone significant taxonomic revision: originally described as a subspecies of Oncocnemis riparia, it was elevated to full species status as Oncocnemis major in 1999 and transferred to the genus Sympistis in 2008. Adults have a wingspan of 31–36 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on Penstemon species.