Nomia tetrazonata
This record describes Nomia tetrazonata (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance

Nests in Soil. Neither turret nor nest chimney is present. Maximum depth of nest in soil is up to 50 cm
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Halictidae (Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees)
- Subfamily
- Nomiinae
- Genus
- Nomia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
West Discover Life Map
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: Author: Cockerell, 1910
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Nomia tetrazonata. 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 Nomia tetrazonata (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Nomia tetrazonata
What is Nomia tetrazonata?
Nomia tetrazonata is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Nomia tetrazonata found?
Range: West Discover Life Map
What does Nomia tetrazonata eat?
The diet of the Nomia tetrazonata 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..
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