Centris pallida
This record describes Centris pallida (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
puts on spectacular displays of mating behavior in the spring around nests in desert washes in Arizona ( Fact sheet )
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
- Centridini
- Genus
- Centris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
West. Discover Life Map .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Centris pallida. 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 Centris pallida (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by margarethe brummermann; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , v belov , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Centris pallida
What is Centris pallida?
Centris pallida is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Centris pallida found?
Range: West. Discover Life Map .
What does Centris pallida eat?
The diet of the Centris pallida includes Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..