Epeolus scutellaris
This record describes Epeolus scutellaris (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | . . . shape of pygidial plate is diagnostic of Epeolus. |
| Head | Head: Black with yellowish hair around antenna bases in female; across mid-face in male. Cheeks narrow, about half as wide as eye width; males only ¼ as wide as eye width. Mandibles reddish on female; all black on male. Antenna: Base (scape) reddish to yellowish-brown. First 3 segments reddish on female. Rest dark brown-black. All dark brown-black on male. |
| Thorax | Thorax: Rough with yellowish-white hair. Collar stripe uninterrupted. Segment 1 (scutum) has two stripes, one each side of mid line. Segment 2 (scutellum) has deep groove down center; brown in male, side points (axillae) reddish-brown; segment entirely red in female. Axillae are large and project past end of scutellum. |
| Thorax | Thorax sides rough, tubercles reddish-brown, surrounded with yellowish-white fringe. Bands of yellowish-white hair under wing base and transverse band across center of thorax side; lower half bare. Underside of thorax densely hairy. |
| Wings | Wings: Wing knob (tegulae) reddish-brown. |
| Wings | Wings lightly tinted, becoming slightly darker at tips. Veins brownish. Stigma amber. |
| Legs | Legs: Legs reddish-brown. Male has underside of mid and hind thigh (femora) dark. Feet reddish. Spurs dark. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen: Black with pale yellow stripes resting on lower segment edge. Segment 1 has two stripes which are slightly or not joined at side edges. Lower stripe has a very narrow interrupt at center. Segment 2 stripe also slightly interrupted at center; entire in male. Segments 3 to 5 have uninterrupted stripes. Segment 5 stripe quite wide and indented at center on lower margin. Tip is twice as wide as long with a bright white crescent in female. Male tip rounded, black or orange. Underside shiny, no pile. Segments 2 and 3 have white stripes. During rainy or windy weather, this insect secures itself to the edge of a leaf or to the small branch of a bush, by its mandibles, retracts the feet to the body, and projects the antennae forwards. Thomas Say, 1824. Types: Holotype female as Epeolus scutellaris by Thomas Say, 1824. Locality: Carolina and Mexico. In British Museum of Natural History. Specimen only in Smithsonian. No photos. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Nomadinae
- Tribe
- Epeolini
- Genus
- Epeolus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Forest edges and meadows.
Geographic Range
Minnesota to Nova Scotia, south to Texas and North Carolina. DIscover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
June (in Texas) to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: FLOWER RECORDS-Baccharis, Bidens and Solidago. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
Host is Colletes simulans armatus per Ascher. The female finds Plasterer bee nests, enters and lays an egg. When larva hatch, it kills the Plasterer bee egg, and feeds on the stored pollen, nectar.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Epeolus scutellaris. 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 Epeolus scutellaris (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , lee_penner , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Epeolus scutellaris
What is Epeolus scutellaris?
Epeolus scutellaris is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Epeolus scutellaris?
Female 9-10 mm. Male 7 to 9 mm.
How do you identify Epeolus scutellaris?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | . . . shape of pygidial plate is diagnostic of Epeolus. |
| Head | Head: Black with yellowish hair around antenna bases in female; across mid-face in male. Cheeks narrow, about half as wide as eye width; males only ¼ as wide as eye width. Mandibles reddish on female; all black on male. Antenna: Base (scape) reddish to yellowish-brown. First 3 segments reddish on female. Rest dark brown-black. All dark brown-black on male. |
| Thorax | Thorax: Rough with yellowish-white hair. Collar stripe uninterrupted. Segment 1 (scutum) has two stripes, one each side of mid line. Segment 2 (scutellum) has deep groove down center; brown in male, side points (axillae) reddish-brown; segment entirely red in female. Axillae are large and project past end of scutellum. |
| Thorax | Thorax sides rough, tubercles reddish-brown, surrounded with yellowish-white fringe. Bands of yellowish-white hair under wing base and transverse band across center of thorax side; lower half bare. Underside of thorax densely hairy. |
| Wings | Wings: Wing knob (tegulae) reddish-brown. |
| Wings | Wings lightly tinted, becoming slightly darker at tips. Veins brownish. Stigma amber. |
| Legs | Legs: Legs reddish-brown. Male has underside of mid and hind thigh (femora) dark. Feet reddish. Spurs dark. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen: Black with pale yellow stripes resting on lower segment edge. Segment 1 has two stripes which are slightly or not joined at side edges. Lower stripe has a very narrow interrupt at center. Segment 2 stripe also slightly interrupted at center; entire in male. Segments 3 to 5 have uninterrupted stripes. Segment 5 stripe quite wide and indented at center on lower margin. Tip is twice as wide as long with a bright white crescent in female. Male tip rounded, black or orange. Underside shiny, no pile. Segments 2 and 3 have white stripes. |
Where is Epeolus scutellaris found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest edges and meadows. |
| Range | Minnesota to Nova Scotia, south to Texas and North Carolina. DIscover Life Map |
What does Epeolus scutellaris eat?
The diet of the Epeolus scutellaris includes FLOWER RECORDS-Baccharis, Bidens and Solidago. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Epeolus scutellaris active?
Epeolus scutellaris: seasonal activity - June (in Texas) to September.
What is the life cycle of a Epeolus scutellaris?
Host is Colletes simulans armatus per Ascher. The female finds Plasterer bee nests, enters and lays an egg. When larva hatch, it kills the Plasterer bee egg, and feeds on the stored pollen, nectar.