Brachygastra mellifica
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
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 |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Honey Wasp sighting in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park on a given day, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 145th most-seen of the 431 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May and October–March
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Honey Wasp in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April and June–September, the lowest months.
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.
3rd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Mexican Honey Wasp sightings, Cumbres de Monterrey National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%. The best odds are in Cabo Pulmo National Park (Mexico, about 20%) and Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve (Mexico, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Mexican Honey Wasp is recorded against all the insects logged in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (19 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.
