Halictidae This Family Comprises Two Genera, Halictus and Lasioglossum, Which Can Be Tricky to Separate
Halictidae This family comprises two genera, Halictus and Lasioglossum, which can be tricky to separate. All Halictidae have a groove, looking rather like a hair parting at the tip of the abdomen, called a rima. Most species have bands on the abdomen. In Halictus these are on the hind margin, but in Lasioglossum they are at the front of each tergite, often partly covered by the hind edge of the preceding tergite. Some females have orange legs and many of the males have pale leg markings with some also having a pale patch on the lower clypeus. Some species have a metallic greenish cuticle. The tongue is short and pollen is collected on the hind legs. Some members of the genus are eusocial, having larger egg-laying females (queens) and smaller sterile females (workers) which help at the nest. Nesting occurs in the ground, sometimes in aggregations. Only (mated) females survive the winter, with both sexes hatching from the first spring brood. The genus is parasitised by various Sphecodes bees.
Halictus confusus This species is very similar to H. tumulorum: please refer to that species for a description.
Flight times Recorded in May – September.
Distribution Recorded at Roydon Common
(MEA) and in the Brecks, with five post-2000 records, three still to be confirmed(GN, TS). Halictus confusus
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2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
Habitat Sandy grassland, sometimes with Heather.
Flowers visited No information
Nesting No information
Parasites None known (BWARS).
Halictus rubicundus Females This bee could be mistaken for an Andrena but for the presence of a rima and the lack of facial foveae. The head and thorax hair is red and there are white marginal bands on the abdomen, interrupted centrally in T1 and T2. The cuticle and hair of the hind tibiae and the mid and hind tarsi is orange. Males are similar but slimmer with long antennae. The tibiae and tarsi of all legs are largely yellow and there is yellow mark on the clypeus. The labrum is also yellow.
Flight times April – August with males recorded from July. Halictus rubicundus female at nest hole. Spalla Gap, Weybourne 20th May 2010 Distribution Widespread in the Brecks and the east of the county.
Halictus rubicundus
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8 2000 – 2014 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Halictus rubicundus male. Wharfedale, Yorkshire 16th August 2010 Habitat Heathland and other habitats with gravelly soils, including Broadland (Hickling).
Flowers visited Bramble, Dandelion, Oxford Ragwort, White Bryony.
Nesting Nesting aggregation on low cliff at Spalla Gap, Weybourne. A eusocial species (BWARS).
Parasites Sphecodes gibbus and S. monilicornis (BWARS).
Halictus tumulorum Parasites Sphecodes ephippius (SF). Females This species is much smaller than the last and rather broad bodied. The cuticle has a dull greenish sheen, though this can be hard to see in some individuals. The tergites have dull white hind margins and also flattened hairs at the anterior tergite edges. Females of H. confusus are almost identical but have broader white margins to the tergites which do not narrow centrally (SF). Males are also metallic green. The antennae are very long and the tibia, tarsus and most of the femur of all legs are bright yellow. The mandibles, labrum and tip of the clypeus are also yellow. Males can be separated from H. confusus Halictus tumulorum female. Holkham 8th males only from details of genitalia. September 2014
Flight times April – October, with males recorded from June.
Distribution Widespread and common.
Halictus tumulorum
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2000 – 2014 8 1980 – 1999 Pre 1980 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 th Halictus tumulorum male. Pandy, Wales 26 Habitat Woodland, heathland, churchyards, September 2015 gardens, quarries, river valleys.
Flowers visited Bramble, Cinquefoil, Fleabane, Germander Speedwell, Sedum, Mullein, Ragwort, Scabious, White Bryony. Males are sometimes seen in clusters in one flower.
Nesting Nests in aggregations. Eusocial: small females are likely to be sterile workers. No county information.