Pseudomasaris edwardsii
This record describes Pseudomasaris edwardsii (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females have a swelling on the anterior side of mesotibia (reduced/absent in some individuals): Males have unique antennae, and a slight swelling on frons: description (Bradley 1922)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Masarinae
- Genus
- Pseudomasaris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
WA-CA-Baja to WY-CO-AZ ; one adventitious occurrence in ON
Seasonal Activity
Mar to mid-Aug, mostly Apr-Jul, depending on altitude and flowering of food plants
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pseudomasaris edwardsii. 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 Pseudomasaris edwardsii (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Matthias Buck , Aaron Schusteff , v belov , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Pseudomasaris edwardsii
What is Pseudomasaris edwardsii?
Pseudomasaris edwardsii is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Pseudomasaris edwardsii?
Females have a swelling on the anterior side of mesotibia (reduced/absent in some individuals): Males have unique antennae, and a slight swelling on frons:
Where is Pseudomasaris edwardsii found?
Range: WA-CA-Baja to WY-CO-AZ ; one adventitious occurrence in ON
When is Pseudomasaris edwardsii active?
Pseudomasaris edwardsii: seasonal activity - Mar to mid-Aug, mostly Apr-Jul, depending on altitude and flowering of food plants.