Sphecodes Bees in This Genus Are Cleptoparasites Which Lay Their Eggs in the Nests of Halictus, Lasioglossum and Andrena Species
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Sphecodes Bees in this genus are cleptoparasites which lay their eggs in the nests of Halictus, Lasioglossum and Andrena species. They have little hair, are mostly black with a partially red abdomen, a rough cuticle and strong mandibles. In most species adult females hibernate through the winter and males appear later in the season. In all species females have a red abdomen with a dark tip. Males usually have red or yellowish bands on the abdomen but in some species the abdomen is entirely black. The antennae of males are knobbly with a flattened hair patch on each segment. A few Sphecodes are specific to their host but others have several hosts and there is still much to learn about host choice. Seventeen species have been recorded from the British Isles with 14 recorded in Norfolk, 12 post-2000. It is difficult to identify members of this genus from images alone. Male identification sometimes relies on details of genitalia. Sphecodes crassus Females Recogniseable with magnification by their swollen hind femora and long labrum. Males require examination of details of antennae and genitalia for identificaton. Flight times March – August. Males from June. Distribution Recorded in the Norwich area and the Brecks with outlying records from Narborough and Wymondham. Sphecodes crassus 4 3 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Quarry, old railway track, heathland, river valley. Flowers visited Angelica, Cow Parsley, Wild Carrot. Nesting Recorded near Lasioglossum parvulum nests at Mousehold Heath (TS). It may have additional hosts (SF). Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes ephippius Sphecodes ephippius This is a medium sized species. Females The punctation on the thorax is moderately dense. 4 The red on the abdomen commonly extends 3 to the sides of T4 and the spines on the legs 2 are translucent reddish in colour. Males have 1 short lumpy antennae, dense punctation on 0 the thorax and red markings on T1 – T3. 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Heathland, quarries, commons, Brecks, woodland rides, chalk grassland, gardens. Flowers visited Catsear, Hogweed, Milk Parsley, Creeping Thistle, Turnip. Nesting A parasite of Halictus tumulorum whose Norfolk distribution it closely matches. It is also thought to parasitise several Sphecodes ephippius female. Kelling Heath Lasioglossum species (SF). th 12 August 2009. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes ephippius female on Catsear. Kelling Heath 12th May 2011. Flight times March – September. Males from June. Distribution Widespread and common. Sphecodes ferruginatus Females have dense puncturing on the face and thorax and a long labrum. Males Tergites 1 - 3 are often entirely red but males require microscopic examination to confirm (SF). Flight times No Norfolk information. Distribution Only one Norfolk record: from Brundall in the 1880s (JBB: TS 2011). Habitat No information. Flowers visited No records. Nesting Reported to be a cleptoparasite of Lasioglossum fulvicorne and L. fratellum. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes geoffrellus Habitat Quarries, heathland, soft cliffs, Females The mandibles of this small species Brecks, chalk grassland, river valleys. have two points and the punctures on the thorax are shallow and well spaced. The tarsi Flowers visited Dodder, Turnip. and bases of the tibiae are orange. There is Nesting A cleptoparasite of at least five often a black spot at the side of the abdomen Lasioglossum species (SF). The distribution where T2 meets T3. Males have variable best fits L. leucopus in Norfolk. yellow/red bands on T1 – T3. The tarsi and parts of the tibiae are pale. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes geoffrellus male on Dodder. Kelling th Heath 20 July 2010. Flight times April – September. Males from June. Distribution Widely distributed and common but with few records from central areas or the Fens. Sphecodes geoffrellus 4 3 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Sphecodes gibbus Females of this large species have a wide head with several rows of punctures behind the ocelli (most Sphecodes lack punctures here). There are black hairs and spines on the hind tibia. The wings are darkened but the wing stigmas are pale brown. Males also have punctures behind the ocelli and pale wing stigmas. There are orange/red markings on T1 – T3, with T2 being largely coloured. Flight times May – September. Males from July. Distribution A scarce species with recent records from the Brecks, Weybourne and Marsham Heath Sphecodes gibbus 4 3 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Brecks, coastal grassland, heathland. Flowers visited No records. Nesting A cleptoparasite of Halictus rubicundus (BWARS) but recorded from only a few sites of this species. Four of the 8 tetrads with records of S. gibbus also have records of H. rubicundus. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes hyalinatus Females This small species resembles S. geoffrellus but differs in having less punctation on T2 and T3 (requiring microscopic examination) and dense white hairs under the thorax. Males require microscopic examination of antennae and genitalia for identification. Flight times May – August. Males from July. Distribution Recorded at Honing 1996, Narborough 2002 (KD) and 2012 (TS), Foulden Common 2003 (Brecks Project) and at Warham Camp 2012 (NO). Sphecodes hyalinatus 4 3 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Calcareous grassland. Flowers visited No records. Nesting A cleptoparasite of Lasioglossum fulvicorne and L. fratellum (SF). The former species has been recorded in the same tetrad as S. hyalinatus at Narborough and Foulden but neither species so far at Warham Camp. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes longulus Females are tiny with single-pointed mandibles (otherwise only seen in S. puncticeps). The body is slim and the tarsi and parts of the tibiae are reddish. Males are vry slim with pale tarsi and pale marks at each end of the tibiae. The abdomen is almost black with variable amounts of reddish tints on T1 - T3. Flight times April – August. Males from July. Distribution Widespread in the county. Sphecodes longulus 4 3 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Quarries, chalk grassland, heathland, Brecks. Flowers visited No records. Nesting A cleptoparasite of Lasioglossum morio, L. minutissimum and possibly other Lasioglossum species (SF). It is not clear from the distribution which hosts are used in Norfolk. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes miniatus Females of this small species have a single pointed mandibles, fairly dense punctures on the thorax, a reticulate pattern on the propodeum and dark legs. Males require examination of genitalia to determine. Flight times April – September. Males from September (only one record). Distribution Recorded in the Brecks, the Norwich area and the north coast. Sphecodes miniatus 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 2000 – 2014 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Brownfield sites, quarries, cliffs, forest rides. Flowers visited No records. Nesting Observed near Lasioglossum morio nests at Brundall (TS) which is a known host, as is L. smeathmanellum (SF). However, S. miniatus is scarce and localised in Norfolk compared with these two Lasioglossum species. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes monilicornis Flowers visited Bramble, Creeping Thistle, Females of this fairly large species have rows Hogweed, garden Sea Holly, Thyme, Wild of punctures on the head behind the ocelli. Carrot, Yarrow. The head is squarish in shape, with the sides Nesting Associated with Lasioglossum coming out backwards behind the eyes before curving sharply inwards. Males have long calceatum, a known host, near Foulden (KD). antennae without obvious hair patches. There Also known to parasitise L. albipes, L. malachurum and Halictus rubicundus (SF). The are variable amounts of red on T1 – T3. Norfolk distribution and abundance of S. monilicornis suggests that L. calceatum is its main host in the county. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes monilicornis on Wild Thyme. Warham Camp 5th August 2012. Flight times April – September. Males from July. Distribution Widespread and common. Sphecodes monilicornis 4 3 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Gardens, commons, heathland, Brecks. Sphecodes niger Distribution Widespread and fairly frequent in Females of this very small species can be the county, and is increasing (TS 2011). recognised by a smooth shiny area beneath Sphecodes niger the wing base and the dark upper surface of T3. Males are entirely black and can be 4 mistaken for a Lasioglossum but have more 3 knobbly antennae and different genitalia. 2 1 0 9 2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Habitat Brownfield sites, quarries, gardens, chalk grassland, Brecks. Flowers visited Milk Parsley. Nesting Observed near Lasioglossum morio nests at Brundall (TS). This is the only Sphecodes niger female. Warham Camp 24th reported (possible) host of S. niger (BWARS). May 2012. Parasites None recorded. Sphecodes niger female on Germander th Speedwell. Coploe Hill Cambridgeshire 27 April 2014 Flight times July – September. Males from June. Sphecodes pellucidus Habitat Heathland and other sites with loose Females of this fairly large species can be unshaded sand. recognised by their wide head, large deep punctures on the thorax, wide pygidium and Nesting A cleptoparasite of Andrena barbilabris. The distribution of S. pellucidus long white body hairs. Males can be identified microscopically from details of antennae and generally matches that of this Andrena in genitalia. Norfolk.