Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee
Sphecodes heraclei
This record describes Sphecodes heraclei (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
New Hampshire to southern Ontario, to Texas, east to Florida. Global Map
Seasonal Activity
March to November
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Visits flowers from several families. 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 heraclei Robertson, 1897
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Sphecodes heraclei. 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 Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki; Additional contributions by hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee
How big is Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 7mm |
| Male | Length 7mm |
Where is Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee found?
Range: New Hampshire to southern Ontario, to Texas, east to Florida. Global Map
What does Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee eat?
The diet of the Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee includes Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee active?
Cyclops Cuckoo Sweat Bee: seasonal activity - March to November.