Anthophora bomboides
This record describes Anthophora bomboides (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Apinae
- Tribe
- Anthophorini
- Genus
- Anthophora (Digger Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
From Alaska to Nova Scotia, south to California and (in mountains) to Georgia. Widespread across North America. Discover Life Map .
Seasonal Activity
June to August.
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.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Anthophora bomboides. 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 Anthophora bomboides (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joe, Entomologist (in training); Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Domingo Zungri , John S. Ascher , Aaron Schusteff , JohnMaxwell22 , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthophora bomboides
Where is Anthophora bomboides found?
Range: From Alaska to Nova Scotia, south to California and (in mountains) to Georgia. Widespread across North America. Discover Life Map .
What does Anthophora bomboides eat?
The diet of the Anthophora bomboides 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 Anthophora bomboides active?
Anthophora bomboides: seasonal activity - June to August..