Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees
Halictidae
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Family: Halictidae
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Halictidae: /həˈlɪktɪdiː/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Halictidae, the sweat bee family, is a diverse group of bees ranging from small to medium sizes, often metallic in color. They are primarily ground-nesters and important pollinators, showing various social behaviors and nesting strategies.
Physical Characteristics
Small to medium-sized bees, usually black or brownish, with some having metallic greenish or bluish highlights. They exhibit great variation in appearance, including some that are red, purple, or blue, often with yellow markings, especially on males.
Identification Tips
Halictids are distinguished by the arcuate (curved) basal wing vein and have short tongues. Females are generally larger than males, and males typically display bright yellow faces.
Habitat
Most species nest in the ground in habitats such as clay soil and sandy banks of streams, though a few species nest in wood.
Distribution
Found worldwide on every continent except Antarctica. Nearly 4,500 species exist, with about 520 species in 18 genera occurring in the specified area.
Diet
All species except kleptoparasites are pollen feeders and may be important pollinators.
Life Cycle
Halictids typically mass-provision their young by forming a mass of pollen and nectar inside waterproof cells, where an egg is laid and the cell is sealed off to give the larva all its food at once.
Reproduction
Most species exhibit varying degrees of eusociality with some possessing well-defined queen and worker castes, while others exhibit solitary or primitively eusocial behaviors.
Ecosystem Role
Important pollinators, especially for diverse plant species including crops. Some species exhibit kleptoparasitic behavior.
Economic Impact
Some species contribute significantly to crop pollination, such as Lasioglossum vierecki and Lasioglossum leucozonium.
Health Concerns
Only females can sting, and stings are typically minor and occur when these bees are disturbed, especially when attracted to sweat.
Collecting Methods
- Net collection
- Trap collection
Preservation Methods
- Freezing
- Ethanol preservation
Evolution
Halictidae has existed since at least the Early Eocene, with a phylogenetic history suggesting an early evolution of eusociality.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Commonly known as sweat bees, they are generally non-aggressive and only sting if disturbed.
Tags
- bees
- pollinators
- Halictidae
- sweat bees
- ecosystem
- biodiversity