Crossocerus maculipennis
This record describes Crossocerus maculipennis (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
distinguished by the conspicuous yellow lateral spots on abdominal segments 2-5 and the presence of a precoxal tubercle on the mesopleuron C. maculipennis and C. nitidiventris are the only New World Crossocerus having the metasoma black with conspicuous yellow lateral spots on segments 2-5 ( Matthias Buck's comment ), and our only representatives of the subg. Acanthocrabro . In other Crossocerus , the metasoma is either entirely black in males [cf. couplets 69/70 in ], or with reddish markings in females (e.g. C. angelicus ) [cf. couplet 46 in ) key characters :
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
- Crossocerus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
transcontinental (BC‒QC to CA‒NM‒IL‒VA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: nest provisioned with paralyzed flies, incl. Nephrotoma tenuis , N. ferruginea & other tipulids ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Crossocerus maculipennis (Smith 1856)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Crossocerus maculipennis. 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 Crossocerus maculipennis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Schusteff; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Crossocerus maculipennis
What is Crossocerus maculipennis?
Crossocerus maculipennis is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Crossocerus maculipennis?
distinguished by the conspicuous yellow lateral spots on abdominal segments 2-5 and the presence of a precoxal tubercle on the mesopleuron C. maculipennis and C. nitidiventris are the only New World Crossocerus having the metasoma black with conspicuous yellow lateral spots on segments 2-5 ( Matthias Buck's comment ), and our only representatives of the subg. Acanthocrabro . In other Crossocerus , the metasoma is either entirely black in males [cf. couplets 69/70 in ], or with reddish markings in females (e.g. C. angelicus ) [cf. couplet 46 in ) key characters :
Where is Crossocerus maculipennis found?
Range: transcontinental (BC‒QC to CA‒NM‒IL‒VA)
What does Crossocerus maculipennis eat?
The diet of the Crossocerus maculipennis includes nest provisioned with paralyzed flies, incl. Nephrotoma tenuis , N. ferruginea & other tipulids ( 3 ).