Sphecodes confertus

Say, 1837

Sphecodes confertus is a of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the Halictidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1837. Like other members of the Sphecodes, this species is a nest of other halictid bees. The species has been recorded in North America, with confirmed observations from Vermont.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sphecodes confertus: //ˈspiːkəˌdiːz kənˈfɛrtəs//

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Distribution

North America; recorded from Vermont, United States.

Host Associations

Halictidae - Sphecodes are of other sweat bees; specific records for S. confertus are not documented in available sources.

Behavior

Females are known to wait at nest entrances of bees and enter to deposit in host chambers when the host leaves. This cleptoparasitic has been observed in Sphecodes generally.

Ecological Role

As a , this contributes to of sweat bee species. Sphecodes bees are part of the broader but do not directly contribute to pollination due to their parasitic lifestyle.

Similar Taxa

NomadaBoth are cleptoparasitic bees that may be mistaken for ; Nomada are of Andrenidae while Sphecodes parasitizes Halictidae.
Sphecodes albilabrisCongeneric with similar cleptoparasitic and general appearance; S. albilabris is more widely documented in Europe.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The epithet 'confertus' was authored by Thomas Say in 1837. The name 'confertus' appears in unrelated (e.g., Hoplisoides confertus), but these represent distinct .