Howard's Cellophane Bee
Colletes howardi
This record describes Colletes howardi (species). Recorded family: Colletidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Colletidae (Cellophane, Plasterer, Masked, and Allied Bees)
- Subfamily
- Diphaglossinae
- Genus
- Colletes (Cellophane bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Pines, North Carolina, Florida. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Recorded on Dalea pinnata and Petalostemon pinnatus . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Colletes howardi Swenk, 1925
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Colletes howardi. 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 Howard's Cellophane Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Howard's Cellophane Bee
How big is Howard's Cellophane Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | 9-12mm. , Wing 6.5mm |
| Male | 10mm. , Wing 6mm |
Where is Howard's Cellophane Bee found?
Range: Southern Pines, North Carolina, Florida. Discover Life Map
What does Howard's Cellophane Bee eat?
The diet of the Howard's Cellophane Bee includes Recorded on Dalea pinnata and Petalostemon pinnatus . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Howard's Cellophane Bee active?
Howard's Cellophane Bee: seasonal activity - September.