California Digger Bee
Anthophora californica
This record describes Anthophora californica (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
White metasomal bands are integumental (vs. white hair bands in A. urbana) Eye color in life usually greenish (vs. blue-gray in A. urbana) Male with hind tibia red and modified, with a projection (vs. unmodified and whitish in color in A. urbana) Scutum with hairs usually ran with fewer dark hairs intermixed than in A. urbana In the Central USA see also the larger Anthophora walshii , and in western mountains compare with the large male of A. montana
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
sw US to C. Amer. - Map (Discover Life)
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: Anthophora californica Cresson, 1869
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Anthophora californica. 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 California Digger Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About California Digger Bee
What is California Digger Bee?
California Digger Bee (Anthophora californica) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify California Digger Bee?
White metasomal bands are integumental (vs. white hair bands in A. urbana) Eye color in life usually greenish (vs. blue-gray in A. urbana) Male with hind tibia red and modified, with a projection (vs. unmodified and whitish in color in A. urbana) Scutum with hairs usually ran with fewer dark hairs intermixed than in A. urbana In the Central USA see also the larger Anthophora walshii , and in western mountains compare with the large male of A. montana
Where is California Digger Bee found?
Range: sw US to C. Amer. - Map (Discover Life)
What does California Digger Bee eat?
The diet of the California Digger Bee 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..