Blueberry Cellophane Bee
Colletes validus
This record describes Colletes validus (species). Recorded family: Colletidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Malar space unusually long. Otherwise similar to inaequalis in 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
Georgia and North Carolina, north to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, the New England states and New Brunswick. Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
March to July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The usual host plant is Vaccinium (Ericaceae). The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
Information on life cycle and nesting can be found in Batra
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The latin name is an adjective meaning strong, healthy, worthy, or valid. The common name refers to blueberry, a preferred host plant.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Colletes validus. 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 Blueberry Cellophane Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Ted Kropiewnicki , hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Blueberry Cellophane Bee
What is Blueberry Cellophane Bee?
Blueberry Cellophane Bee (Colletes validus) is a species in the family Colletidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Blueberry Cellophane Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 13-14 mm. |
| Male | Length 10-12 mm. |
How do you identify Blueberry Cellophane Bee?
Malar space unusually long. Otherwise similar to inaequalis in appearance
Where is Blueberry Cellophane Bee found?
Range: Georgia and North Carolina, north to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, the New England states and New Brunswick. Discover Life Global Map
What does Blueberry Cellophane Bee eat?
The diet of the Blueberry Cellophane Bee includes The usual host plant is Vaccinium (Ericaceae). The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Blueberry Cellophane Bee active?
Blueberry Cellophane Bee: seasonal activity - March to July.
What is the life cycle of a Blueberry Cellophane Bee?
Information on life cycle and nesting can be found in Batra