Sweat-bee-parasite

Guides

• 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.

  cleptoparasitecuckoo-beeblood-beeHalictidaesolitary-beeground-nesting-parasiteHymenopteranative-beebee-diversitypollinator-communityCockerell-1922subspeciesSphecodessweat-bee-parasiteinvertebrateinsectbeeparasitic-bee