Slevin's Cellophane Bee
Colletes slevini
This record describes Colletes slevini (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
Habitat
Stephen notes that they're most common in mountainous regions from 2500 - 8000 feet.
Geographic Range
Canada: British Columbia USA: Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona to the west coast. Mexico: Baja California Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
May - September
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.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Colletes slevini Cockerell, 1925
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Colletes slevini. 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 Slevin's Cellophane Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Slevin's Cellophane Bee
How big is Slevin's Cellophane Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 10mm; Wing 6.25 |
| Male | Length 9mm; Wing 6.75 |
Where is Slevin's Cellophane Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Stephen notes that they're most common in mountainous regions from 2500 - 8000 feet. |
| Range | Canada: British Columbia USA: Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona to the west coast. Mexico: Baja California Discover Life Map |
What does Slevin's Cellophane Bee eat?
The diet of the Slevin's 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 Slevin's Cellophane Bee active?
Slevin's Cellophane Bee: seasonal activity - May - September.