sweat and furrow bees
(Subfamily Halictinae)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Halictinae is a very common and widespread subfamily of bees called sweat and furrow bees. It is the largest subfamily of sweat bees, with more than 2,400 described species worldwide, about 400 in North America north of Mexico, and at least 38 in Minnesota. Most Halictinae nest in burrows in the ground, often on the banks of streams and rivers. Sometimes they nest close together in large numbers. Some of the smaller species are attracted to sweat and are called sweat bees. |
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Description |
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Adults are 3⁄16″ to ⅝″ (5 to 15 mm) in length. They have short tongues. On the face a single line-like groove extends downward from the base of each antenna (subantennal suture). On the forewing there are three submarginal cells. The basal vein on the forewing is strongly curved (arced) inward. This last feature distinguishes Halictinae bees from nearly all other bees in North America. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 9/21/2019 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies) | ||
Suborder |
Apocrita (narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees) | ||
Infraorder |
Aculeata (ants, bees, and stinging wasps) | ||
Superfamily |
Apoidea (bees and apoid wasps) | ||
| Epifamily | Anthophila (bees) | ||
Family |
Halictidae (sweat bees) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Tribe Augochlorini (augochlorine green sweat bees) Tribe Halictini Tribe Sphecodini |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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sweat and furrow bees |
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Visitor Photos |
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Luciearl |
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Sweat bee on thistle |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| Sweat-bees (Halictinae) pollinating Dyckia spp (Bromeliaceae) Pollination and pollinators |
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About
Published on Jan 9, 2017 Augochlorine sweat-bees (Halictinae) pollinating flowers of two Dyckya spp. (Bromeliaceae) in Porto Alegre, Brazil |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Andy Frank 7/30/2021 |
Location: Winona County deeply probing mullein flower at woodland edge under power line where electric company tree crew had cut trees and left shredded tree and shrubbery remnants scattered the previous year= |
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| Luciearl 8/5/2020 |
Location: Cass County |
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| Luciearl 8/27/2019 |
Location: Cass County |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 9/21/2019
Last Updated: