Sphex texanus
This record describes Sphex texanus (species). Recorded family: Sphecidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females have a black head and thorax, with silvery-yellow pubescence on these segments. The legs are fully black, and the wingtips are darkened. The abdomen has T1-3 red and T4-6 black. Males are black with clear wings and yellowish-silvery pubescence, particularly on the face. They can be distinguished by the median truncation of the clypeus emarginate, only about as broad as the space between the antennal sockets, and lack a median subbasal spine on T6. S. ichneumoneus has red legs and typically brighter golden pubescence S. dorsalis females have the 7th abdominal segment red, and red legs S. dorsalis males are similar in coloration but have a poorly-defined median truncation of the clypeus, broader than the space between the antennal sockets, and a median subbasal spine on T6.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Sphecidae (Thread-waisted Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Sphecinae
- Tribe
- Sphecini
- Genus
- Sphex
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
KS-TX-AZ
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sphex texanus Cresson 1872
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Sphex texanus. 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 Sphex texanus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Sphex texanus
What is Sphex texanus?
Sphex texanus is a species in the family Sphecidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Sphex texanus?
Females have a black head and thorax, with silvery-yellow pubescence on these segments. The legs are fully black, and the wingtips are darkened. The abdomen has T1-3 red and T4-6 black. Males are black with clear wings and yellowish-silvery pubescence, particularly on the face. They can be distinguished by the median truncation of the clypeus emarginate, only about as broad as the space between the antennal sockets, and lack a median subbasal spine on T6. S. ichneumoneus has red legs and typically brighter golden pubescence S. dorsalis females have the 7th abdominal segment red, and red legs S. dorsalis males are similar in coloration but have a poorly-defined median truncation of the clypeus, broader than the space between the antennal sockets, and a median subbasal spine on T6.
Where is Sphex texanus found?
Range: KS-TX-AZ