Triepeolus simplex
This record describes Triepeolus simplex (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Types: Lectotype Triepeolus simplex female by Robertson 1903. #18665 or #3600. Locality Carlinville, Illinois Aug 14, 1896. In Illinois Natural History Survey. Lectotype designated by LaBerge June 20, 1996. Michigan Museum of Natural History has 4 Triepeolus simplex specimens. Not a type specimen, but there is 1 listed for the Smithsonian – no photos.
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
Habitat
Forest edges and meadows.
Geographic Range
Canada: Ontario. USA: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas.
Seasonal Activity
July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are cleptoparasites of Digger or Long-horned bees Melissodes , possibly Melissodes communis .
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Triepeolus simplex. 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 simplex
What is Triepeolus simplex?
Triepeolus simplex is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Triepeolus simplex?
12 to 13 mm. long.
Where is Triepeolus simplex found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest edges and meadows. |
| Range | Canada: Ontario. USA: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas. |
What does Triepeolus simplex eat?
The diet of the Triepeolus simplex includes Larvae are cleptoparasites of Digger or Long-horned bees Melissodes , possibly Melissodes communis ..
When is Triepeolus simplex active?
Triepeolus simplex: seasonal activity - July and August..