Blue Calamintha Bee
Osmia calaminthae
This record describes Osmia calaminthae (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Currently only known from sandy scrub at four sites in the southern Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County, Florida
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)
- Subfamily
- Megachilinae
- Tribe
- Osmiini
- Genus
- Osmia (Mason Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida Discover Life Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: apparent floral specialist on Clinopodium ashei [syn. Calamintha ashei (Lamiaceae)]. 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 Osmia calaminthae. 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 Blue Calamintha Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Calamintha Bee
What is Blue Calamintha Bee?
Blue Calamintha Bee (Osmia calaminthae) is a species in the family Megachilidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Blue Calamintha Bee found?
Range: Florida Discover Life Map
What does Blue Calamintha Bee eat?
The diet of the Blue Calamintha Bee includes apparent floral specialist on Clinopodium ashei [syn. Calamintha ashei (Lamiaceae)]. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..