Punctate Masked Bee
Hylaeus punctatus
This record describes Hylaeus punctatus (species). Recorded family: Colletidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Non-native. First recorded in the US in 1981. (Snelling, 1983)
Wikipedia reference for Hylaeus punctatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylaeus_punctatus.
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
- Hylaeus (Masked Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Europe, South America and North America Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hylaeus (Spatulariella) punctatus (Brullé, 1832)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Hylaeus punctatus. 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 Punctate Masked Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Aaron Schusteff , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Punctate Masked Bee
What is Punctate Masked Bee?
Punctate Masked Bee (Hylaeus punctatus) is a species in the family Colletidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Punctate Masked Bee found?
Range: Europe, South America and North America Discover Life Map
What does Punctate Masked Bee eat?
The diet of the Punctate Masked Bee includes Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Punctate Masked Bee active?
Punctate Masked Bee: seasonal activity - June to August.