Ectemnius maculosus
This record describes Ectemnius maculosus (species). Recorded family: Crabronidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male of this species quite distinctive because of the narrowing of the head behind the eyes. -- Matthias Buck
Wikipedia reference for Ectemnius maculosus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectemnius_maculosus.
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
- Ectemnius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
"Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec. United States east of 100th meridian (Bohart and Menke 1976)." (naturewatch.ca)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on flies supplied by adults. Adults visit flowers for nectar.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Ectemnius maculosus (Gmelin, 1790)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Ectemnius maculosus. 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 Ectemnius maculosus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Vox Sciurorum , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Ectemnius maculosus
What is Ectemnius maculosus?
Ectemnius maculosus is a species in the family Crabronidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Ectemnius maculosus?
10 mm.
How do you identify Ectemnius maculosus?
Male of this species quite distinctive because of the narrowing of the head behind the eyes. -- Matthias Buck
Where is Ectemnius maculosus found?
Range: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec. United States east of 100th meridian (Bohart and Menke 1976). (naturewatch.ca)
What does Ectemnius maculosus eat?
The diet of the Ectemnius maculosus includes Larvae feed on flies supplied by adults. Adults visit flowers for nectar..