Crabro snowii
This record describes Crabro snowii (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance

A member of the hilaris species group, in which males have no tibial shield.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Crabronidae (Square-headed Wasps, Sand Wasps, and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Crabroninae
- Tribe
- Crabronini
- Genus
- Crabro
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Ontario south to Florida Panhandle, west to Saskatchewan and Kansas.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Crabro snowii W. Fox 1896
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Crabro snowii. 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 Crabro snowii (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Crabro snowii
What is Crabro snowii?
Crabro snowii is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Crabro snowii?
A member of the hilaris species group, in which males have no tibial shield.
Where is Crabro snowii found?
Range: Southern Ontario south to Florida Panhandle, west to Saskatchewan and Kansas.
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