Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee
Macrotera echinocacti
This record describes Macrotera echinocacti (species). Recorded family: Andrenidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
a member of the subg. Macroteropsis (6 spp., all in our area )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Andrenidae (Miner, Fairy, Allied Panurgine, and Oxaeine Bees)
- Subfamily
- Panurginae
- Tribe
- Perditini
- Genus
- Macrotera (Goblin Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ & nw. Mexico . Discover Life Map .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Pollen from barrel cactus. 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: Macrotera (Macroteropsis) echinocacti Timberlake 1954
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Macrotera echinocacti. 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 Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov , hg , antarctica , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee
What is Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee?
Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee (Macrotera echinocacti) is a species in the family Andrenidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee found?
Range: AZ & nw. Mexico . Discover Life Map .
What does Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee eat?
The diet of the Barrel Cactus Goblin Bee includes Pollen from barrel cactus. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..