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Family Halictidae - Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees)
Family Halictidae (Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees)
Explanation of Names Some species are attracted to sweat. Numbers 3 subfamilies, with ca. 520 spp. in 18 genera of 3 tribes in our area, >4,300 spp. in ~80 genera of 5 tribes worldwide (1)
Overview of our fauna (* –taxa not yet in the guide)
Family Halictidae
Tribe Halictini Agapostemon (subgenera Agapostemon, *Notagapostemon), Halictus (subgenera Nealictus, Odontalictus, Pachyceble, Protohalictus, Vestitohalictus), Lasioglossum (subgenera Dialictus, Evylaeus, Hemihalictus, Lasioglossum, Leuchalictus, Sphecodogastra), Mexalictus, Sphecodes
Identification Small to medium-sized bees, usually black or brownish, a few have metallic greenish or bluish highlights (2)
Guide to eastern genera in (3)
Halictidaes are distinguished by the arcuate (curved) basal wing vein as shown here  . All Halictids have short tongues and only one subantennal suture. (4)
OVERVIEW OF GENERA
Genus Agapostemon - Metallic Green Bees
 ♀  ♂
Life Cycle Typically ground-nesters, with nests formed in clay soil, sandy banks of streams, etc. Most species are polylectic (collecting pollen from a variety of unrelated plants). Remarks A few species are attracted to sweat, and will sometimes sting if disturbed, though the sting is not very painful (2). Some are parasitic, especially Sphecodes spp. (5)See Also Some metallic-green halictids superficially resemble cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae), but lack the sculptured cuticle and the ability to curl up in a protective ball.
Similar looking metalic green bees with the basal vein often slightly curved. Works Cited | 4. | The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees.
Joseph S. Wilson & Olivia J. Messinger Carril. 2015. Princeton University Press. | |
| 5. | The Bees of the World, 2nd edition
Charles D. Michener. 2007. The Johns Hopkins University Press. | |
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, anitagould, Ted Kropiewnicki, John S. Ascher, v belov, Marci Hess, PaleoJon, Nathaniel GreenLast updated 16 February, 2023 - 4:05pm |
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