HymenopteraCrabronidae – Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies

Cerceris blakei

This record describes Cerceris blakei (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Cerceris blakei - Cerceris blakei — Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov , Robert H. Biagi

Note humped tegulae (Matthias Buck) ♂ ♀

Identification notes

Note humped tegulae (Matthias Buck) ♂ ♀

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

e.US (NJ‒FL to IL‒KS‒e.TX; map )

About Flies: the wider group

Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Cerceris blakei. 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.

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