Ceratina strenua
This record describes Ceratina strenua (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It has a yellow or white stripe (not spot) on front tibia. Types: Holotype as Ceratina strenua male by Smith, 1879. Type Locality: Texas. In the British Museum of Natural History, London, England. Holotype as Ceratina metallica male by Smith, 1907. Type Locality: Sunbury, Pennsylvania (Baker). Museum unknown. Smith was a professor at University of California, Riverside. The type may be in their insect collection. Note: Harry Scott Smith coined the phrase biological control in a 1919 article in the Journal of Economic Entomology: On some phases of insect control by the biological method.
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
- Xylocopinae
- Genus
- Ceratina (Small Carpenter Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Forest edges and meadows
Geographic Range
Discover Life Map New York to Georgia and Louisiana; Ontario
Seasonal Activity
March to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
Mating from April to May. Females bore new tunnels in twigs of sumac and canes like raspberry and rose. Males die out, females stay in nest until new batch of adults emerge from their eggs in July. The new adults (unmated) use old hollowed-out twigs for over-wintering. One generation per year.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of species is Smith, 1879.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Ceratina strenua. 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 Ceratina strenua (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Ted Kropiewnicki , John S. Ascher , JohnMaxwell22 , hg , lee_penner , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Ceratina strenua
What is Ceratina strenua?
Ceratina strenua is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Ceratina strenua?
Female: 5-6.5 mm. Male 4-5.5 mm. Averages smaller than other sympatric species in its subgenus (e.g., calcarata, dupla, and mikmaqi).
How do you identify Ceratina strenua?
It has a yellow or white stripe (not spot) on front tibia.
Where is Ceratina strenua found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest edges and meadows |
| Range | Discover Life Map New York to Georgia and Louisiana; Ontario |
What does Ceratina strenua eat?
The diet of the Ceratina strenua includes The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Ceratina strenua active?
Ceratina strenua: seasonal activity - March to October..
What is the life cycle of a Ceratina strenua?
Mating from April to May. Females bore new tunnels in twigs of sumac and canes like raspberry and rose. Males die out, females stay in nest until new batch of adults emerge from their eggs in July. The new adults (unmated) use old hollowed-out twigs for over-wintering. One generation per year.