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Photo#187383
Halictus tripartitus - female
Copyright © 2008 Hartmut Wisch

Halictus tripartitus - Female
Pasadena, CA, Los Angeles County, California, USA
June 1, 2008
Size: 5 mm
Found a cluster of burrows in my back yard (in a clear space between native shrubs). I've seen these bees in some of my Mallows (i.e. Spheralcea), but also in other flowers. Their burrow entrances are vertical holes in the ground, 2 mm in diameter.
Perhaps the wide-ranging H. ligatus ?
Please see also a later post from the same garden: 1.

Images of this individual: tag all
Halictus tripartitus - female Halictus tripartitus - female Halictus tripartitus - female
Contributed by Hartmut Wisch on 3 June, 2008 - 11:21am
Last updated 3 June, 2008 - 6:58pm

is the thorax weakly greenish metallic?
It so this is the quite small H. tripartitus.

If not then the larger H. ligatus

I do not see the genal tooth of ligatus but the view is not optimal
… John S. Ascher, 3 June, 2008 - 12:24pm

 
Yes, I'd say
that the thorax is 'weakly greenish metallic'.
I'm about to post some new photos after just returning from my garden. This morning was quite foggy, and the sun started to emerge 40 minutes ago. I positioned myself at one of the little holes and watched four bees emerge over the period of fifteen minutes.
Thanks for your information, according to which it is probably H. tripartitus.
… Hartmut Wisch, 3 June, 2008 - 2:22pm

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