Brachygastra mellifica
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Brachygastra mellifica, commonly known as the Mexican honey wasp, is a neotropical social wasp. It can be found in North America. B. mellifica is one of few wasp species that produces honey. It is also considered a delicacy in some cultures in Mexico. This wasp species is of use to humans because it can be used to control pest species and to pollinate avocados.
The genus name Brachygastra comes from Ancient Greek βραχύς (brakhús), meaning "short", and γαστήρ (gastḗr), meaning "belly". The specific epithet mellifica means "to make honey" in Latin. The species that comprise the genus Brachygastra are neotropical social wasps. They can be found from southern United States to Northern Argentina and include a total of 16 species. B. mellifica is the only species present in the US, found in both Arizona and Texas. B. mellifica ranges from Texas to Panama. This genus is known for its easily recognizable abdomen, which can be almost as wide as it is long, and its very high scutellum that often projects over the metanotum. B. mellifica is very similar in morphology to B. lecheguana but differs in its geographic distribution. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | San Antonio | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Luis Potosí | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 5 | Monterrey | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 6 | Puebla | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 7 | Guadalajara | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 8 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Honey Wasp sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 9th most-seen of the 22 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Honey Wasp in Cabo Pulmo National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and July–November, the lowest months. That is one of Cabo Pulmo National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain against 120 mm in September.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Mexican Honey Wasp sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Mexican Honey Wasp sightings, Cabo Pulmo National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve (Mexico, about 20%) and Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (Mexico, about 10%).
Same order: Hymenoptera
The closest relatives of the Mexican Honey Wasp that you can see in Cabo Pulmo National Park (order Hymenoptera, Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies) are Palm Paper Wasp (about 20%) and Bicolored Pyramid Ant (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Mexican Honey Wasp is recorded against all the insects logged in Cabo Pulmo National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
