Hyaline Cellophane Bee
Colletes hyalinus
This record describes Colletes hyalinus (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
Boreal species. In Canada it ranges from Nova Scotia to Yukon. Discover Life Map US: Only found in Michigan and Maine in the east. In the western US H. haylinus is found in the pacific northwest, California, Colorado, and Idaho to Montana.
Seasonal Activity
April to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Colletes hyalinus. 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 Hyaline Cellophane Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Hyaline Cellophane Bee
How big is Hyaline Cellophane Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | length 9-10mm , wing 7mm |
| Male | length 8mm , wing 5.75mm |
Where is Hyaline Cellophane Bee found?
Range: Boreal species. In Canada it ranges from Nova Scotia to Yukon. Discover Life Map US: Only found in Michigan and Maine in the east. In the western US H. haylinus is found in the pacific northwest, California, Colorado, and Idaho to Montana.
What does Hyaline Cellophane Bee eat?
The diet of the Hyaline Cellophane Bee includes Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Hyaline Cellophane Bee active?
Hyaline Cellophane Bee: seasonal activity - April to October.