Lasioglossum laevigatum (Kirby,1802)
Synonyms
Lasioglossum lugubris KIRBY 1802
Distribution
Mainly confined to southern England, with a few records from further north. Not known from Scotland, Ireland or the Channel Islands. A local mining bee but sometimes abundant where found. A western Palaearctic species, the range extending from Britain to the Urals, and central Iberia to Iran.
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.
Habitat
Particularly associated with calcareous grassland; occasionally open woodland on chalk, wooded heathland and fenland.
Flight period
Females from mid April to late September; males early July to September.
Pollen collected
The bee has been observed collecting dandelion (Taraxacum species) pollen (pers. obs.), but other flowers are doubtless utilised. Polylectic in Germany, foraging from species in the families Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Cornaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae and Salicaceae (Westrich 1989).
Nesting biology
Nesting habits are apparently largely unknown. In Germany, the species is stated to be "solitary" (i.e. non-social) (Westrich 1989).
Flowers visited
Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), broom (Cytisus scoparius), plum (Prunus domestica), wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), wild carrot (Daucus carota), willow (Salix species), speedwell (Veronica species), guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus), tormentil (Potentilla erecta) and ragwort (Senecio species).
Parasites
No information available.
Year profile last updated
2002