Anthophora pacifica
This record describes Anthophora pacifica (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
Western. Discover Life Map .
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.
Life History
This species overwinters as unemerged adults in their cells, instead as prepupae. (Brooks, 1988; cited in Michener, 2007)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Anthophora pacifica. 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 pacifica (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthophora pacifica
Where is Anthophora pacifica found?
Range: Western. Discover Life Map .
What does Anthophora pacifica eat?
The diet of the Anthophora pacifica 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..
What is the life cycle of a Anthophora pacifica?
This species overwinters as unemerged adults in their cells, instead as prepupae. (Brooks, 1988; cited in Michener, 2007)