Sphecodes confertus
This record describes Sphecodes confertus (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
sickle-shaped, elongate, simple mandibles, median groove (hairs within visible in image) of broad clypeus, broad head, and densely punctate scutum. Comment by John Ascher
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Halictidae (Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees)
- Subfamily
- Halictinae
- Tribe
- Halictini
- Genus
- Sphecodes (Blood Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia, to Northern Manitoba, to Washington, to Texas. More common in the east. Discover Life Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Recorded on Cirsium, Solidago, Melilotus . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sphecodes confertus Say, 1837
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Sphecodes confertus. 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 Sphecodes confertus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Sphecodes confertus
What is Sphecodes confertus?
Sphecodes confertus is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Sphecodes confertus?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 9mm |
| Male | Length 7mm |
How do you identify Sphecodes confertus?
sickle-shaped, elongate, simple mandibles, median groove (hairs within visible in image) of broad clypeus, broad head, and densely punctate scutum. Comment by John Ascher
Where is Sphecodes confertus found?
Range: Nova Scotia, to Northern Manitoba, to Washington, to Texas. More common in the east. Discover Life Map
What does Sphecodes confertus eat?
The diet of the Sphecodes confertus includes Recorded on Cirsium, Solidago, Melilotus . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..