Broad-footed Cellophane Bee
Colletes latitarsis
This record describes Colletes latitarsis (species). Recorded family: Colletidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
To differentiate it from the similar Colletes willistoni : Female: The second trasal segment of the hind legs are short, approximately as broad as long, and the hind basitarsi are two and one fourth (2.25) times as long as broad. Male: The hind basitarsi of the is two and one fourth (2.25) times as long a broad. See below:
Wikipedia reference for Colletes latitarsis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colletes_latitarsis.
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
Florida to Louisiana, north to New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. Stephen states that the range of this species extends west as far as Arizona. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
March to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Usual host plant is Physalis. 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: The female hind basitarsi is very broad.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Colletes latitarsis. 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 Broad-footed Cellophane Bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher | Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Broad-footed Cellophane Bee
What is Broad-footed Cellophane Bee?
Broad-footed Cellophane Bee (Colletes latitarsis) is a species in the family Colletidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Broad-footed Cellophane Bee?
Female-Length 11 mm Male-Length 8-9 mm
How do you identify Broad-footed Cellophane Bee?
To differentiate it from the similar Colletes willistoni : Female: The second trasal segment of the hind legs are short, approximately as broad as long, and the hind basitarsi are two and one fourth (2.25) times as long as broad. Male: The hind basitarsi of the is two and one fourth (2.25) times as long a broad. See below:
Where is Broad-footed Cellophane Bee found?
Range: Florida to Louisiana, north to New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. Stephen states that the range of this species extends west as far as Arizona. Discover Life Map
What does Broad-footed Cellophane Bee eat?
The diet of the Broad-footed Cellophane Bee includes Usual host plant is Physalis. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Broad-footed Cellophane Bee active?
Broad-footed Cellophane Bee: seasonal activity - March to September..