Triepeolus loomisorum
This record describes Triepeolus loomisorum (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Nomadinae
- Tribe
- Epeolini
- Genus
- Triepeolus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
CA, TX, NM, AZ, Mexico Discover Life map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: recorded on Pectis papposa
Life History
associated with the eucerine Xenoglossodes eriocarpi
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Rozen, 1989
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Triepeolus loomisorum. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Triepeolus loomisorum
Where is Triepeolus loomisorum found?
Range: CA, TX, NM, AZ, Mexico Discover Life map
What does Triepeolus loomisorum eat?
The diet of the Triepeolus loomisorum includes recorded on Pectis papposa.
What is the life cycle of a Triepeolus loomisorum?
associated with the eucerine Xenoglossodes eriocarpi