Anthidium psoraleae
This record describes Anthidium psoraleae (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)
- Subfamily
- Megachilinae
- Tribe
- Anthidiini
- Genus
- Anthidium (Woolcarder Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Colorado and North Dakota, east to Illinois and Michigan. Possibly the range of this species extends to the Pacific Coast.
Seasonal Activity
July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Robertson (1929) records this species on Astragalus, Lobelia, Psoralea, Trifolium and Verbena.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Anthidium psoraleae Robertson 1902
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Anthidium psoraleae. 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 Anthidium psoraleae (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthidium psoraleae
How big is Anthidium psoraleae?
Female 11mm. Male 12-13mm
Where is Anthidium psoraleae found?
Range: Colorado and North Dakota, east to Illinois and Michigan. Possibly the range of this species extends to the Pacific Coast.
What does Anthidium psoraleae eat?
The diet of the Anthidium psoraleae includes Robertson (1929) records this species on Astragalus, Lobelia, Psoralea, Trifolium and Verbena..
When is Anthidium psoraleae active?
Anthidium psoraleae: seasonal activity - July.