Pseudomasaris marginalis
This record describes Pseudomasaris marginalis (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Head and thorax with long, black hairs. Black with whitish yellow markings, otherwise mostly black; clypeus, scape, most of the thorax, and abdomen ventrally are black. Has a lamellate propodeum (rather than dentate as in the somewhat similar zonalis ; if dentate, tooth very short).
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
BC-CA to AB-NM ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Females gather Phacelia pollen to provision nest
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pseudomasaris marginalis (Cresson 1864)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pseudomasaris marginalis. 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 marginalis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff , v belov , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Pseudomasaris marginalis
What is Pseudomasaris marginalis?
Pseudomasaris marginalis is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Pseudomasaris marginalis?
Head and thorax with long, black hairs. Black with whitish yellow markings, otherwise mostly black; clypeus, scape, most of the thorax, and abdomen ventrally are black. Has a lamellate propodeum (rather than dentate as in the somewhat similar zonalis ; if dentate, tooth very short).
Where is Pseudomasaris marginalis found?
Range: BC-CA to AB-NM ( 3 )
What does Pseudomasaris marginalis eat?
The diet of the Pseudomasaris marginalis includes Females gather Phacelia pollen to provision nest.