Nomada bella
This record describes Nomada bella (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
All black scutellum and broad yellow tergal bands (John Ascher) This species is a cleptoparasite of Andrena (including A. imitatrix I suspect) commonly seen in the New England forest understory in early spring. -- John Ascher
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
- Nomadini
- Genus
- Nomada (Nomad Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern Discover Life Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Salix . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Nomada bella. 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 Nomada bella (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Nomada bella
What is Nomada bella?
Nomada bella is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Nomada bella?
All black scutellum and broad yellow tergal bands (John Ascher)
Where is Nomada bella found?
Range: Eastern Discover Life Map
What does Nomada bella eat?
The diet of the Nomada bella includes Salix . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..