Halictidae
Guides
Lasioglossum katherineae
Lasioglossum katherineae is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Gibbs in 2011. It belongs to the subgenus Dialictus within the large genus Lasioglossum, which contains over 1,700 species worldwide. Like other members of this genus, it is a ground-nesting solitary or semi-social bee. The species is known from North America, with confirmed records from Vermont.
Lasioglossum laevissimum
Very Smooth Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum laevissimum is a small metallic sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the most species-rich and taxonomically challenging groups of North American bees. The species was described by Smith in 1853 and has accumulated seven synonymies due to historical difficulties in distinguishing Dialictus species. It occurs in Canada and the northern United States, where it nests in soil and visits flowers for pollen and nectar. Like other Dialictus, it is likely a solitary or weakly social ground-nesting bee with females provisioning individual brood cells.
Lasioglossum leucocomum
Lasioglossum leucocomum is a small metallic sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the largest and most taxonomically challenging bee genera in North America. The species was resurrected from synonymy in a 2010 revision of Canadian Dialictus, which recognized it as a valid species distinct from previously confused names. Like other Dialictus, it is a ground-nesting bee with variable social organization, ranging from solitary to small-colony sociality. The species contributes to pollination services in its native range.
Lasioglossum leucozonium
White-banded Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum leucozonium is a solitary, ground-nesting sweat bee in the family Halictidae. Native to the Palearctic, it has been introduced to North America where genetic evidence indicates establishment from a single founder female. The species is now widespread across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America. It produces one generation per year and is a generalist pollinator frequently associated with yellow-flowered Asteraceae.
Lasioglossum lineatulum
Lineated Metallic Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum lineatulum is a metallic sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the most commonly collected bee groups in North America. The species was described by Crawford in 1906 and has undergone taxonomic revision, with Halictus (Chloralictus) latus and H. (C.) unicus synonymized under this name. As a member of the largest bee genus, it contributes to the high abundance of Lasioglossum species frequently captured in bee monitoring surveys.
Lasioglossum lionotum
smooth-backed sweat bee
Lasioglossum lionotum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Sandhouse in 1923. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a small, ground-nesting bee. The species is known from North America, with confirmed records from Vermont. As with most Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information specific to L. lionotum is limited.
Lasioglossum lustrans
Two-celled Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum lustrans is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1897. As a member of the genus Lasioglossum—one of the largest bee genera with over 1,700 species—it belongs to a group frequently encountered in bee surveys and monitoring studies. The species is known from North America and is referred to by the common name 'Two-celled Sweat Bee'. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee and contributes to pollination services in its habitat.
Lasioglossum marinum
marine metallic-sweat bee
Lasioglossum marinum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the marine metallic-sweat bee. It belongs to one of the largest bee genera, with over 1,700 species. Like other members of Lasioglossum, it is likely a ground-nesting solitary or semi-social bee. The specific epithet 'marinum' suggests an association with coastal or saline environments, though detailed ecological studies are limited.
Lasioglossum mellipes
sweat bee
Lasioglossum mellipes is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Crawford in 1907. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, which comprises over 1,700 species. Like other halictids, it is commonly encountered in bee monitoring studies using bowl traps, though such methods may not accurately represent its true abundance or ecological role.
Lasioglossum michiganense
Michigan sweat bee
Lasioglossum michiganense is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Mitchell in 1960. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a small bee that may be attracted to human perspiration for the salts and minerals it contains. The species is part of the largest genus of bees, which includes over 1,700 species globally. Specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Lasioglossum nelumbonis
water-lily sweat bee
Lasioglossum nelumbonis is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the water-lily sweat bee. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, with over 1,700 species worldwide. Like other members of the genus, it is a ground-nesting bee. The specific epithet 'nelumbonis' suggests an association with water lilies (Nelumbo), though direct ecological documentation is limited.
Lasioglossum nigroviride
Black-and-green Metallic-Sweat bee, black-and-green dialictus sweat bee
Lasioglossum nigroviride is a small metallic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, placed in the subgenus Dialictus. The species was described by Graenicher in 1911 and is one of numerous metallic Lasioglossum species in North America. Halictus (Chloralictus) richardsoni Cockerell was synonymized with this species in Gibbs's 2010 revision of Canadian Dialictus. Like other members of this large genus, it is a ground-nesting bee with likely solitary or semi-social behavior.
Lasioglossum nymphale
sweat bee
Lasioglossum nymphale is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Smith in 1853. As a member of the large genus Lasioglossum, it belongs to a group of small, often metallic bees commonly known as sweat bees due to their attraction to human perspiration. The species occurs in North America and shares the general biology of other Lasioglossum species, including ground-nesting behavior and solitary or semi-social nesting habits.
Lasioglossum oblongum
Oblong Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum oblongum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, Lasioglossum, which contains over 1,700 species. As a member of the subgenus Dialictus, it is one of many small, often metallic bees that are frequently encountered in bee surveys and monitoring efforts. The species is documented from North America, with confirmed records from Vermont.
Lasioglossum obscurum
Obscure Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum obscurum is a small solitary bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as sweat bees. It belongs to the largest genus of bees, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other Lasioglossum species, it is a ground-nesting bee that typically occurs in North American prairie and grassland habitats. The species was described by Robertson in 1892.
Lasioglossum oenotherae
Evening Primrose Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum oenotherae is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Evening Primrose Sweat Bee. The species is native to North America and has been documented in association with evening primrose (Oenothera) flowers, from which it derives its specific epithet. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a ground-nesting bee and contributes to pollination services in its native range.
Lasioglossum olympiae
Olympia Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum olympiae is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It is a small, ground-nesting bee native to North America. Like other members of the genus Lasioglossum, it is a generalist pollinator that visits a variety of flowering plants. The species is part of the largest genus of bees, which includes over 1,700 species globally.
Lasioglossum ovaliceps
Oval-headed Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum ovaliceps is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1898. It is native to North America and belongs to the largest genus of bees, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other members of its genus, it is a small, ground-nesting bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Lasioglossum pacificum
Pacific Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum pacificum is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, one of more than 1,700 species in the genus Lasioglossum. The species was described by Cockerell in 1898 and is native to western North America. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Lasioglossum petrellum
sweat bee
Lasioglossum petrellum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, originally described by Cockerell in 1903. It belongs to the subgenus Dialictus, one of the largest and most taxonomically challenging groups within the genus Lasioglossum. Recent integrative taxonomic research using DNA barcoding and morphology has revealed that L. petrellum represents a cryptic species complex, with four new species described from within its former range. The species is native to North America and Middle America.
Lasioglossum pictum
Lasioglossum pictum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Crawford in 1902. Like other members of this large genus, it is a ground-nesting bee. The species is documented from North America. As with many Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information specific to L. pictum is limited in available sources.
Lasioglossum planatum
Flattened Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum planatum is a small sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, resurrected from synonymy in a 2010 taxonomic revision of Canadian metallic Lasioglossum. It is one of over 1,700 species in the genus Lasioglossum, the largest genus of bees. Like other Dialictus species, it is a ground-nesting bee with variable social behavior. The species occurs in northeastern North America, with confirmed records from Vermont.
Lasioglossum platyparium
sweat bee
Lasioglossum platyparium is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Robertson in 1895. Like other members of the large genus Lasioglossum, it is a small bee that nests in the soil. The species occurs in North America, with records from Vermont and other regions. As with many Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information is limited.
Lasioglossum semicaeruleum
sweat bee
Lasioglossum semicaeruleum is a small metallic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, subgenus Dialictus. It was described by Cockerell in 1895 and occurs in North America. The species was revised taxonomically in 2010, with two junior synonyms synonymized under it. Like other members of the large genus Lasioglossum, it is a ground-nesting bee and contributes to pollination services in its habitat.
Lasioglossum subviridatum
sweat bee
Lasioglossum subviridatum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. Unlike most sweat bees that nest in soil, this species is one of the few known to nest in wood, which shapes its habitat preferences. It belongs to the large genus Lasioglossum, which contains over 1,700 species and is frequently encountered in bee monitoring studies.
Lasioglossum tarponense
sweat bee
Lasioglossum tarponense is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Mitchell in 1960. It belongs to the genus Lasioglossum, the largest genus of bees with over 1,700 species. Like other halictids, it is a ground-nesting bee. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Lasioglossum tegulare
Epaulette Metallic Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum tegulare is a small sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the epaulette metallic-sweat bee. It belongs to the subgenus Dialictus within the large genus Lasioglossum, which contains over 1,700 species. Like other sweat bees, it has been observed visiting flowers for pollen and nectar. The species is part of the diverse assemblage of native bees that contribute to pollination services in North America.
Lasioglossum timberlakei
Lasioglossum timberlakei is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by McGinley in 1986. The specific epithet honors P.H. Timberlake, a notable entomologist whose extensive collections contributed significantly to bee taxonomy. As a member of the genus Lasioglossum, it belongs to the largest genus of bees with over 1,700 species worldwide. Very few specific details about this particular species have been documented in the available literature.
Lasioglossum truncatum
Truncate Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum truncatum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, one of over 1,700 species in the genus Lasioglossum. Like other members of this large genus, it is a ground-nesting solitary bee. The species occurs in North America and has been documented in Vermont and other regions. As with many Lasioglossum species, detailed natural history information specific to L. truncatum is limited, though it shares general ecological traits with its congeners.
Lasioglossum versans
Friendless Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum versans is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, subgenus Dialictus. It was described by Lovell in 1905 and is one of 84 metallic Dialictus species treated in the Canadian taxonomic revision. The species is known from North America with records from Vermont. Like other members of the large genus Lasioglossum, it is a ground-nesting bee with likely solitary or semi-social nesting biology.
Lasioglossum versatum
Experienced Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum versatum is a sweat bee species in the family Halictidae, subgenus Dialictus, native to North America. It was described by Robertson in 1902 and has undergone taxonomic revision, with three synonymies proposed in a 2010 Canadian revision. Like other Dialictus species, it is small and likely metallic, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species contributes to the diverse assemblage of Lasioglossum bees that dominate many North American bee surveys.
Lasioglossum weemsi
Weems's Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum weemsi is a small sweat bee in the subgenus Dialictus, one of the most species-rich groups of bees in North America. Originally described by Mitchell in 1960, this species was subsequently documented as a new record for Canada. Like other members of Dialictus, it belongs to a group noted for diverse social systems ranging from solitary to eusocial behavior. The species is part of the larger genus Lasioglossum, which comprises over 1,700 species globally and represents a significant component of native bee communities.
Mexalictus
Mexican sweat bees
Mexalictus is a genus of sweat bees established by Eickwort in 1978. The genus comprises more than 20 described species distributed in the Halictidae family. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized bees characterized by metallic coloration typical of many halictids. The genus is native to Mexico and adjacent regions.
Mexalictus arizonensis
Arizona mexalictus
Mexalictus arizonensis, commonly known as the Arizona mexalictus, is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It is a small, solitary bee endemic to the southwestern United States. The species was described by Eickwort in 1978 and is one of the few members of the genus Mexalictus, a group of bees restricted to North America. Like other halictids, it is likely a generalist pollinator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Micralictoides
Micralictoides is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, comprising eight described species. The genus was established by Timberlake in 1939 and is classified within the subfamily Rophitinae. Species in this genus are native to western North America, particularly arid regions of California and the Mojave Desert. They are small to medium-sized bees associated with specific host plants.
Micralictoides ruficaudus
Red-tailed Micro-Shortface
Micralictoides ruficaudus is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Michener in 1937. It is a member of the subfamily Rophitinae, a group of solitary bees often associated with specialized pollen-collecting behaviors. The species is known from North America, with observations documented across multiple regions. As with many halictid bees, it likely plays a role in pollination of native flora.
Nomia angustitibialis
Canyon Nomia
Nomia angustitibialis is a species of ground-nesting bee in the family Halictidae, described by Ribble in 1965. The species is known from Middle America and North America. As a member of the genus Nomia, it shares the group's characteristic nesting biology in soil, though specific details of its ecology remain poorly documented compared to the well-studied congener Nomia melanderi.
Nomia maneei
Manee's Nomia
Nomia maneei is a ground-nesting bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cockerell in 1910. It belongs to the genus Nomia, which includes several species of solitary bees that nest in soil. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented compared to its congener Nomia melanderi, which is intensively managed for alfalfa pollination.
Nomia melanderi
alkali bee, Alkali Nomia
Nomia melanderi, commonly known as the alkali bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee native to the western United States. It is the world's only intensively managed ground-nesting bee, commercially cultivated for alfalfa pollination. The species nests in dense aggregations in moist, alkaline soils and exhibits traits that preceded insect sociality, including defense of offspring against pathogens and predators.
Nomia nortoni
Norton's Alkali Bee, Norton's Nomium
Nomia nortoni is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as Norton's alkali bee or Norton's nomium. It is native to Central America and North America. The species has two recognized subspecies: N. n. cressoni and N. n. nortoni. As a member of the genus Nomia, it is related to other alkali bees that are known for their ground-nesting behavior in alkaline soils.
Pseudaugochlora
Pseudaugochlora is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, tribe Augochlorini. Members are small to medium-sized bees with metallic coloration. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region, with records from Caribbean islands including Providencia. As with other Augochlorini, they are solitary or weakly social ground-nesting bees.
Sphecodes
Blood Bees, Cuckoo Sweat Bees
Sphecodes is a genus of kleptoparasitic bees in the family Halictidae, commonly known as blood bees due to their distinctive black and red coloration. With over 300 described species, this is one of the largest genera of cuckoo bees and has a cosmopolitan distribution across all continents except Antarctica. Females lack pollen-collecting structures and instead lay eggs in the nests of ground-nesting host bees, primarily in the genera Lasioglossum, Halictus, and Andrena. The larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and develop at the expense of the host offspring.
Sphecodes aroniae
Sphecodes aroniae is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It belongs to a genus of cleptoparasitic bees commonly known as blood bees, which lay eggs in the nests of other solitary bees. The species was described by Mitchell in 1960 and is known from North America, with confirmed records from Vermont, United States.
Sphecodes davisii
Davis's Cuckoo Sweat Bee
Sphecodes davisii is a cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, it exhibits the cuckoo bee lifestyle: females enter nests of host sweat bees to lay eggs in brood cells, where their larvae consume the host's provisions and developing young. The species is native to North America, with documented records from Vermont and broader North American distribution. Like other Sphecodes, it likely targets ground-nesting Halictidae as hosts.
Sphecodes dichrous
Blood Bee
Sphecodes dichrous is a species of cleptoparasitic bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as a blood bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, primarily sweat bees (Halictus and Lasioglossum species). The larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and parasitize the host larvae. The species has been recorded in North America, including Vermont.
Sphecodes heraclei
Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Cyclops Blood Bee. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, females lay their eggs in the nests of other solitary bees, particularly sweat bees in the subfamily Halictinae. The larvae consume the host's food stores and parasitize the host larvae. The species is native to North America and Central America, with records from both regions.
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus
Fiery Cyclops Blood Bee
Sphecodes heraclei ignitus is a subspecies of blood bee within the family Halictidae. Like other members of the genus Sphecodes, this bee is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits the nests of other solitary bees. The subspecific epithet 'ignitus' (meaning 'fiery') and its common name suggest distinctive coloration. The species was described by Cockerell in 1922. As a Sphecodes, it exhibits the characteristic parasitic lifestyle of the genus, targeting sweat bees and other ground-nesting halictids.
Sphecodes johnsonii
Johnson's sphecodes
Sphecodes johnsonii is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It belongs to the genus Sphecodes, commonly known as blood bees or cuckoo sweat bees, which are kleptoparasitic bees that exploit the nests of other bees. The species was described by Lovell in 1909 and is found in North America.
Sphecodes mandibularis
Sphecodes mandibularis is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. The genus Sphecodes comprises cleptoparasitic bees that typically invade nests of other halictid bees. This species has been recorded in North America, with confirmed observations in Vermont, United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits kleptoparasitic behavior, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Sphecodes ranunculi
Blood Bee
Sphecodes ranunculi is a species of cleptoparasitic sweat bee in the family Halictidae, first described by Robertson in 1897. As a member of the genus Sphecodes, commonly known as "blood bees" for their typically red and black coloration, this species exhibits the cuckoo-like reproductive strategy characteristic of the genus: females invade nests of other solitary bees to lay eggs in host brood chambers. The parasitic larvae consume the host's pollen provisions and prey upon the host's developing young.