Lasioglossum rufitarse (Zetterstedt,1838)
Synonyms
Lasioglossum atricorne SMITH F 1870
Description and notes
One of a group of medium-sized, predominantly black, Lasioglossum bees which require care in identification and which are unlikely to be easily recognised in the field. This is a species which is distributed throughout the northern regions of both the New and Old World, although it is montane in the southern parts of its range.
Distribution
A northern species which is very scarce in the extreme south of the British Isles, but may be common further north.
Status (in Britain only)
This bee is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.
Habitat
This species occupies a wide range of habitat types.
Flight period
Females are found between April and October, males between July and September. As with all British Lasioglossum, only mated females hibernate.
Pollen collected
Polylectic (Westrich, 1989).
Nesting biology
A solitary species which nests in exposed soils on upturned root-plates, ditch edges and cliffs.
Flowers visited
In the British Isles has been recorded visiting bramble (Rubus spp.) and ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).
Parasites
Both the cleptoparasitic bees Sphecodes ferruginatus and Nomada fabriciana have been suggested as parasites of this species. Confirmatory evidence from reared material is required.
Year profile last updated
2005