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Halictus rubicundus

Properties

Scientific Name: Halictus rubicundus

Taxonomy

Biology

This species is primarily solitary (Eickwort et al. 1996) though may exhibit some levels of sociality in southern parts of its range (Packer et al. 2007). Eickwort et al. (1996) indicated that the switch to a solitary life style likely allows these bees to live at much higher latitudes than eusocial species.

 

References

Eickwort GC, Eixkwort JM, Gordon J, Eickwort MK (1996) Revision to solitary behavior from eusocial ancestry in the sweat bee Halictus rubicundus in the Rock Mountains, and its implications for high-altitude and high-latitude adaptations and holarctic distributions of social insects. Behavioral Ecology and Social Biology 38: 227-233.

Sociality: Variable
Nesting: Ground
Pollen Specialization: Polylectic
Wintering Stage: Mated Female

Crop Preference: Not Available
Non Crop Preference: Vaccinium angustifolium

Distribution: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Ecozone: Atlantic Maritime, Boreal Shield, Mixwood Plains, Newfoundland Boreal, Pacific Maritime, Prairie, Taiga Plains, Western Interior Basin

female; lateral view
female; lateral view
male; lateral view
male; lateral view