Pseudoanthidium nanum
This record describes Pseudoanthidium nanum (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
About the size or a little smaller than Osmia pumila . Discovered in the New World by Sarah Kornbluth in New Jersey and identified by John S. Ascher. Subsequently reported from Maryland and several other states.
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
- Anthidiini
- Genus
- Pseudoanthidium
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
They frequent Centaurea and other Asteraceae.
Geographic Range
Newly established Old World bee. It was originally collected in MA, NY, & NJ and has spread to neighboring states. Discover Life Map . iNaturalist records have also been confirmed in OR (range may span country).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Recorded on Centaurea biebersteinii . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
They nest in hollow stems and build cottony partitions between cells.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pseudoanthidium nanum (Mocsáry, 1879). The United States occurrences correspond to the nominate subspecies, although subspecies are rarely used in reference to this species.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pseudoanthidium nanum. 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 Pseudoanthidium nanum (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon , bdagley
Frequently Asked Questions About Pseudoanthidium nanum
What is Pseudoanthidium nanum?
Pseudoanthidium nanum is a species in the family Megachilidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Pseudoanthidium nanum?
About the size or a little smaller than Osmia pumila .
Where is Pseudoanthidium nanum found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | They frequent Centaurea and other Asteraceae. |
| Range | Newly established Old World bee. It was originally collected in MA, NY, & NJ and has spread to neighboring states. Discover Life Map . iNaturalist records have also been confirmed in OR (range may span country). |
What does Pseudoanthidium nanum eat?
The diet of the Pseudoanthidium nanum includes Recorded on Centaurea biebersteinii . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
What is the life cycle of a Pseudoanthidium nanum?
They nest in hollow stems and build cottony partitions between cells.