Pruinose Squash Bee
Peponapis pruinosa
This record describes Peponapis pruinosa (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Clypeus protuberant and with a small apical yellow spot in males. Females with widely spaced scopal hairs not hiding integument of tibia. Complete bands of frosty hairs on the abdomen. Male antennae relatively short. Smaller than Xenoglossa, with whiter abdominal hairs, and less yellow on the clypeus. In California and elsewhere in the southwest a pale form has an orange rather than dark abdominal integument. Can be overlooked because females fly early in the morning. If present in a squash patch males should be found sleeping within closed squash blooms and will buzz when these are pinched.
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
- Apinae
- Tribe
- Eucerini
- Genus
- Peponapis (Squash Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Vicinity of Cucurbitaceae plants. Males sleep within closed squash flowers.
Geographic Range
California, Utah and Arizona, eastward to the New England states and Georgia. Has likely expanded its range due to planting of squash by people including Native Americans. Discover Life Map .
Seasonal Activity
June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Pollen and nectar from members of Cucurbitaceae (squash, pumpkins, etc.). The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
It usually nests near or under Cucurbitaceae plants. Solitary, one generation per year.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species name refers to its pruinose (frosty) white abdominal hair bands
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Peponapis pruinosa. 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 Pruinose Squash Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Pruinose Squash Bee
What is Pruinose Squash Bee?
Pruinose Squash Bee (Peponapis pruinosa) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Pruinose Squash Bee?
Female 12.5-14 mm; male 11-13 mm.
How do you identify Pruinose Squash Bee?
Clypeus protuberant and with a small apical yellow spot in males. Females with widely spaced scopal hairs not hiding integument of tibia. Complete bands of frosty hairs on the abdomen. Male antennae relatively short. Smaller than Xenoglossa, with whiter abdominal hairs, and less yellow on the clypeus. In California and elsewhere in the southwest a pale form has an orange rather than dark abdominal integument.
Where is Pruinose Squash Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Vicinity of Cucurbitaceae plants. Males sleep within closed squash flowers. |
| Range | California, Utah and Arizona, eastward to the New England states and Georgia. Has likely expanded its range due to planting of squash by people including Native Americans. Discover Life Map . |
What does Pruinose Squash Bee eat?
The diet of the Pruinose Squash Bee includes Pollen and nectar from members of Cucurbitaceae (squash, pumpkins, etc.). The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Pruinose Squash Bee active?
Pruinose Squash Bee: seasonal activity - June to September.
What is the life cycle of a Pruinose Squash Bee?
It usually nests near or under Cucurbitaceae plants. Solitary, one generation per year.