Sphecodes miniatus von Hagens, 1882
Synonyms
Sphecodes dimidiatus von Hagens, 1882; Sphecodes atratus von Hagens, 1882; Sphecodes nigritulus von Hagens, 1882; Sphecodes murithianus Frey-Gessner, 1903; Sphecodes pilicornis Meyer, 1922
Description and notes
This is a very similar bee to the common Sphecodes geoffrellus (Kirby) and confusion, particularly in the female, most probably occurs.
Distribution
This bee, though scarce, is most frequent in south-east and eastern England. It is not known from Wales, Scotland or Ireland.
Abroad, a widespread species from Finland and Denmark, east to Samos and southern Turkey, Sultan Daglari; south to North Africa (A W Ebmer, pers. comm.). In central Europe it can be locally common though sporadic (S Roberts, pers. comm.).
Status (in Britain only)
This species was classified as Nationally Notable/Nb (now known as Nationally Scarce) by Falk (1991).
Habitat
A species of sandy habitat and frequently found on heathland.
Flight period
Univoltine, the female flying from late April to August and the male from July to September.
Pollen collected
As this bee is a cleptoparasite, no pollen is collected.
Nesting biology
This bee is most often reported to be a cleptoparasite of Lasioglossum nitidiusculum (Kirby) but other similar, small species such as Lasioglossum parvulum (Schenck) may be implicated as additional hosts. A female was taken coursing along and inspecting holes in an old ragstone wall in Kent, in which Lasioglossum smeathmanellum (Kirby) was nesting, another possible host (pers. obs.). Details of the parasitic behaviour do not appear to have been reported in the literature.
Flowers visited
Flower visits, for nectar only, are most often to plants of the daisy family, although other families are additionally used in continental Europe (S Roberts, pers. comm.).
Parasites
No data available.
Year profile last updated
2016