Lasioglossum zephyrus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Halictidae
Subfamily: Halictinae
Tribe: Halictini
Genus: Lasioglossum
Species: zephyrus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lasioglossum zephyrus: /ˌlæsiˈoʊɡlɒsəm ˈzɛfɪrəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Lasioglossum zephyrus 164067925 by James Kindt. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Lasioglossum zephyrus P1250545a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Lasioglossum zephyrus is a sweat bee in the family Halictidae, characterized by distinctive coloration and behavior. It exhibits primitively eusocial behavior and has a significant role in its ecosystem as a pollinator.

Physical Characteristics

Dark green metallic color, reddish abdomen, and a hairier face than most other species. Males are distinguished by their brighter green color and redder abdomens. Length: Female 5.31–7.08 mm, Male 5.06–7.10 mm.

Identification Tips

Males are more colorful than females. Queens can be identified by their behavior, nudging subordinates.

Habitat

Nests are usually constructed in soil burrows along south-facing edges of streams. They are clustered in aggregations, sometimes up to 1,000 nests.

Distribution

Found throughout the United States, from British Columbia to Texas, east to Florida, and north to Maine.

Diet

Feeds on pollen from various flowers. Collects multiple types of pollen, depending on availability.

Life Cycle

New nests are established in April, with colonies reaching a maximum size of 10–20 individuals by August. Inseminated young queens overwinter in nests to repeat the cycle.

Reproduction

Colonies consist of one or more females; the queen does not collect pollen after the first batch of workers hatches. About 18% of workers may mate as well when the queen is present.

Predators

Parasitized by various organisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other hymenoptera species. Kleptoparasite Lasioglossum cephalotes and parasitoid mutillid Pseudomethoca frigida prey on it.

Ecosystem Role

Plays a role in pollination due to its flower-visiting behaviors.

Evolution

Considered a primitively eusocial bee, displaying both solitary and eusocial behaviors. Insight into the evolutionary background of eusociality due to social polymorphism within the genus.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Common literature may reference it as 'zephyrum', which is a misspelling. The term 'zephyr' refers to a slight wind and is a noun, making the epithet non-changeable after taxonomic reassignment.