Lasioglossum pauxillum (Schenck,1853)
Synonyms
Lasioglossum immarginatum SCHENCK 1853
Description and notes
The inner spur of the hind tibia of the female is diagnostic for this bee in Britain, the teeth being broad and rounded apically, rather than narrow and pointed.
Distribution
Southern England and the Channel Islands (Jersey). Scarce and very local but occasionally abundant where it is found. The species is apparently confined to the western Palaearctic, where it occurs from Britain east to the Urals, and south to North Africa (Morocco) and Iran.
Status (in Britain only)
Listed as Nationally Scarce (Na) by Falk (1991).
Habitat
Mainly open sites, including chalk grassland and woodland.
Flight period
Females from mid April to late September, males from July to October.
Pollen collected
Polylectic; visiting species in the families Aceraceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Cistaceae, Fabaceae, Geraniaceae, Hypericaceae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Ranunculaceae, Resedaceae, Rosaceae and Rubiaceae (Westrich 1989).
Nesting biology
Nests in small to large aggregations, mainly on level, sparsely vegetated soil. Nesting habits are described by Pesenko, Banaszak, Radchenko & Cierzniak (2000). The turret-like nest entrance is illustrated by Westrich (1989). A eusocial species, the workers being smaller than the gynes.
Flowers visited
These include bramble (Rubus sp.), common fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).
Parasites
None reported from Britain.
Year profile last updated
2005