They swarm like gnats, but look like ants? - Lasioglossum

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Copyright © 2007 chuky

They swarm like gnats, but look like ants? - Lasioglossum -

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
July 10, 2007
Size: 5mm long

There a tons of these little bugs swarming around the front and side of my house. They fly a bit like gnats, and seem to swarm similarly to gnats, but as individuals look a bit like ants. What are they? Are they harmful to houses or gardens? What attracts them? There are so many it is almost unpleasant.

Contributed by chuky on 16 July, 2007 - 9:13pm
Last updated 25 November, 2007 - 9:12pm

Moved

Moved from Lasioglossum.

… Beatriz Moisset, 25 November, 2007 - 9:12pm

Small sweat bees (males)

Members of the morio-group of genus Lasioglossum. Sweat bees have a peculiar life-cycle, where males appear only once during the season, but then often in quite large numbers. "Yours" were likely patrolling around the nesting holes of their colony, waiting for emerging females. They are by no way harmful, despite the nuisance due to their number; Moreover, the mating season won't last for very long.

… Richard Vernier, 16 July, 2007 - 9:57pm

Lasioglossum (Dialictus)

males

I don't think our species actually belong to the morio subgroup of the smeanthmanellum group

… John S. Ascher, 17 July, 2007 - 11:56am

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