Agapostemon femoratus
This record describes Agapostemon femoratus (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males can be differentiated from many (not all) other species by the enlarged hind femora.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Halictidae (Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees)
- Subfamily
- Halictinae
- Tribe
- Halictini
- Genus
- Agapostemon (Striped Sweat Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Canada: Southern portions of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. USA: North Dakota to New Mexico west to the Pacific. Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Agapostemon (Agapostemon) femoratus Crawford, 1901
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Agapostemon femoratus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Agapostemon femoratus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tim Loh; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Ted Kropiewnicki , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Agapostemon femoratus
What is Agapostemon femoratus?
Agapostemon femoratus is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Agapostemon femoratus?
Males can be differentiated from many (not all) other species by the enlarged hind femora.
Where is Agapostemon femoratus found?
Range: Canada: Southern portions of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. USA: North Dakota to New Mexico west to the Pacific. Discover Life Global Map
What does Agapostemon femoratus eat?
The diet of the Agapostemon femoratus includes Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Agapostemon femoratus active?
Agapostemon femoratus: seasonal activity - July.