Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees (clade Anthophila) with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees (especially the smaller species), as they are often attracted to perspiration. except Antarctica. Usually dark-colored (frequently brown or black) and often metallic, halictids are found in various sizes, colors and patterns. Several species are all or partly green and a few are red, purple, or blue. and is best distinguished by the arcuate (strongly curved) basal vein found on the wing. Females in this family tend to be larger than the males. The first group of offspring continues to build and protect the nest as well as gather food for a new brood of larvae. An impressive variety of social and nesting behaviors are exhibited by halictids including solitary, communal, semi-social and primitively eusocial. Another example of a primitive eusocial bee species from this family is Halictus ligatus, for which aggression is one of the most influential behavioral attitudes for establishing hierarchy and social organization within the colony. Primitively eusocial species such as these provide insight into the early evolution of eusociality.

Kleptoparasitism

Several genera and species of halictids are kleptoparasites of other bees (mostly other halictids or bees of similar size These bees, as is typical in such cases, have greatly enlarged ocelli. The other families with some crepuscular species are Andrenidae, Colletidae, and Apidae.

Economic importance

Some Halictids are important in the pollination of crops. Among these are the alkali bee, Lasioglossum vierecki and Lasioglossum leucozonium. While some halictid species are oligoleges (e.g., Rophites algirus, which only visits the flowers of hedgenettle plants.

Stinging

alt=A close-up macro shot of a male sweat bee, showing proboscis and palpi at its tip.|thumb|A male [[Halictus rubicundus with its tongue out, licking sweat]]

Only females have the ability to deliver a sting. Due to their non-aggressive nature, they are only likely to sting if disturbed; the sting is minor.

Phylogeny

Halictidae belongs to the hymenopteran clade Aculeata (stinging Hymenoptera), superfamily Apoidea (bees and wasps), series Anthophila (true bees). Fossils from this family are typically found in amber from the Baltic Region and the Dominican Republic and imply that Halictidae have existed since at least 96-75 million years ago. with a number of species, such as Neocorynura electra and Augochlora leptoloba known from amber deposits. Currently, the family is divided into four subfamilies, many genera, and more than 2000 known species. Rophitinae appears to be the sister group to the remaining three subfamilies (Nomiinae, Nomioidinae, Halictinae) based on both morphology and molecular data.

<gallery mode="packed" widths="160px" heights="160px">

File:Iridescent.green.sweat.bee1.jpg|Agapostemon sp.

File:Dufourea novaeangliae, f, side, Washington Co, ME 2016-04-15-21.47 (26697775525).jpg|Dufourea novaeangliae side

File:Oligochlora semirugosa.jpg|female Oligochlora semirugosa in Dominican amber of Miocene age

File:Augochloropsis metallica male.jpg|Augochloropsis metallica male

File:Augochlora pura.webm|thumbtime=10|A pure green sweat bee foraging on yellow ironweed

</gallery>

Classification

Subfamily Rophitinae:

  • Ceblurgus
  • Conanthalictus
  • Dufourea
  • Goeletapis
  • Micralictoides
  • Morawitzella
  • Morawitzia
  • Penapis
  • Protodufourea
  • Rophites
  • Sphecodosoma
  • Systropha
  • Xeralictus

Subfamily Nomiinae:

  • Dieunomia
  • Halictonomia
  • Lipotriches
  • Mellitidia
  • Nomia
  • Pseudapis
  • Ptilonomia
  • Reepenia
  • Spatunomia
  • Sphegocephala
  • Steganomus

Subfamily Nomioidinae:

  • Cellariella
  • Ceylalictus
  • Nomioides

Subfamily Halictinae:<br/>

Tribe Halictini

  • Agapostemon
  • Caenohalictus
  • Dinagapostemon
  • Echthralictus
  • Eupetersia
  • Glossodialictus
  • Habralictus
  • Halictus
  • Homalictus
  • Lasioglossum
  • Mexalictus
  • Microsphecodes
  • Nesosphecodes
  • Paragapostemon
  • Patellapis
  • Pseudagapostemon
  • Ptilocleptis
  • Rhinetula
  • Ruizantheda
  • Sphecodes
  • Thrincohalictus
  • Urohalictus

Tribe Thrinchostomini

  • Parathrincostoma
  • Thrinchostoma

Tribe Augochlorini

  • Andinaugochlora
  • Ariphanarthra
  • Augochlora
  • Augochlorella
  • Augochlorodes
  • Augochloropsis
  • Caenaugochlora
  • Chlerogas
  • Chlerogella
  • Chlerogelloides
  • Corynura
  • Halictillus
  • Ischnomelissa
  • Megalopta
  • Megaloptidia
  • Megaloptilla
  • Megommation
  • Micrommation
  • Neocorynura
  • Paroxystoglossa
  • Pseudaugochlora
  • Rhectomia
  • Rhinocorynura
  • Temnosoma
  • Thectochlora
  • Xenochlora

Unplaced fossil halictines:

  • †Eickwortapis
  • †Nesagapostemon
  • †Oligochlora

References

  • Family Halictidae Large format diagnostic photos, information.
  • Everything About the Sweat Bee - Description and photo of the sweat bee.
  • Image Gallery from Gembloux
  • BugGuide – Search: Halictidae (North American species only).
  • Online identification guides for eastern North American Halictidae
  • Halictidae on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site