Halictidae

Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees (clade Anthophila) with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees (especially the smaller species), as they are often attracted to perspiration. Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in appearance. These bees occur all over the world and are found on every continent except Antarctica. Usually dark-colored (frequently brown or black) and often metallic, halictids are found in various sizes, colors and patterns. Several species are all or partly green and a few are red, purple, or blue. A number of them have yellow markings, especially the males, which commonly have yellow faces, a pattern widespread among the various families of bees. The family is one of many with short tongues and is best distinguished by the arcuate (strongly curved) basal vein found on the wing. Females in this family tend to be larger than the males. They are the group for which the term eusocial was coined by entomologist Suzanne Batra.

Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees (clade Anthophila) with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees (especially the smaller species), as they are often attracted to perspiration. Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in appearance. These bees occur all over the world and are found on every continent except Antarctica. Usually dark-colored (frequently brown or black) and often metallic, halictids are found in various sizes, colors and patterns. Several species are all or partly green and a few are red, purple, or blue. A number of them have yellow markings, especially the males, which commonly have yellow faces, a pattern widespread among the various families of bees. The family is one of many with short tongues and is best distinguished by the arcuate (strongly curved) basal vein found on the wing. Females in this family tend to be larger than the males. They are the group for which the term eusocial was coined by entomologist Suzanne Batra.

Ecology

Most halictids nest in the ground, often in habitats like clay soil and river banks, though a few nest in wood. They mass-provision their young; a mass of pollen and nectar is formed inside a waterproof cell, an egg laid upon it, and the cell sealed off, so the larva is given all of its food at one time, as opposed to "progressive provisioning", where a larva is fed repeatedly as it grows, as in honey bees. Some species line their tunnels with lactone secretions to help workers return to the nest. It is thought that each individual bee has its own unique chemical signature. All species (except for kleptoparasites) are pollen feeders and may be important pollinators. , a specialist pollinator of Convolvulus

Kleptoparasitism

Several genera and species of halictids are kleptoparasites of other bees (mostly other halictids or bees of similar size ). The behavior has evolved at least nine times independently within the family. The most well-known and common are species in the genus Sphecodes, which are somewhat wasp-like in appearance (often shining black with blood-red abdomen- German: Blutbienen - usually 4–9 mm in body length); the female Sphecodes enters the cell with the provision mass, eats the host egg, and lays an egg of her own in its place.

Classification

Subfamily Rophitinae: Ceblurgus Conanthalictus Dufourea Goeletapis Micralictoides Morawitzella Morawitzia Penapis Protodufourea Rophites Sphecodosoma Systropha Xeralictus Subfamily Nomiinae: Dieunomia Halictonomia Lipotriches Mellitidia Nomia Pseudapis Ptilonomia Reepenia Spatunomia Sphegocephala Steganomus Subfamily Nomioidinae: Cellariella Ceylalictus Nomioides Subfamily Halictinae: Tribe Halictini Agapostemon Caenohalictus Dinagapostemon Echthralictus Eupetersia Glossodialictus Habralictus Halictus Homalictus Lasioglossum Mexalictus Microsphecodes Nesosphecodes Paragapostemon Patellapis Pseudagapostemon Ptilocleptis Rhinetula Ruizantheda Sphecodes Thrincohalictus Urohalictus Tribe Thrinchostomini Parathrincostoma Thrinchostoma Tribe Augochlorini Andinaugochlora Ariphanarthra Augochlora Augochlorella Augochlorodes Augochloropsis Caenaugochlora Chlerogas Chlerogella Chlerogelloides Corynura Halictillus Ischnomelissa Megalopta Megaloptidia Megaloptilla Megommation Micrommation Neocorynura Paroxystoglossa Pseudaugochlora Rhectomia Rhinocorynura Temnosoma Thectochlora Xenochlora Unplaced fossil halictines: †Eickwortapis †Nesagapostemon †Oligochlora Image Gallery from Gembloux BugGuide – Search: Halictidae (North American species only). Online identification guides for eastern North American Halictidae Halictidae on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

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