Cerceris bicornuta
This record describes Cerceris bicornuta (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Body coloration slightly variable (John Ascher) ♂ ♀ Mating pair:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Philanthinae
- Tribe
- Cercerini
- Genus
- Cerceris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
USA, transcontinental ( map )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: nest provisioned with Sphenophorus spp. (Matthias Buck) Female with prey:
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cerceris bicornuta Guérin-Méneville 1844
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Cerceris bicornuta. 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 Cerceris bicornuta (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , v belov , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Cerceris bicornuta
What is Cerceris bicornuta?
Cerceris bicornuta is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Cerceris bicornuta?
Body coloration slightly variable (John Ascher) ♂ ♀ Mating pair:
Where is Cerceris bicornuta found?
Range: USA, transcontinental ( map )
What does Cerceris bicornuta eat?
The diet of the Cerceris bicornuta includes nest provisioned with Sphenophorus spp. (Matthias Buck) Female with prey:.