SCIENTIFIC NAME
Lasioglossum
DESCRIPTION
Small sweat bees are usually small, but some are medium-sized (three to 10 mm). Lasioglossum is a very diverse genus with about 100 species in Canada. Usually dark-coloured, they vary in colours from metallic blue to dull green, to brown or black; but some have a light yellow/orange abdomen. These bees are similar to the Halictus bees (above) and they too have males with long antennae.
RANGE
HABITAT
DIET
BEHAVIOUR
undefinedPRIMARY ECOSYSTEM ROLES
Feeding Habits
Lasioglossum are active from early spring to autumn and therefore need flowers that bloom all their active season. This includes spring plants such as Bloodroot, Wild Geranium, willows, Wild Columbine, serviceberries, dogwoods, Harebell, Canada Anemone, violets, Pasque Flower and Golden Alexanders. Summer-flowering plants include Culver’s Root, evening primroses, Spiderwort, Swamp Milkweed, Obedient Plant, Bush Honeysuckle and Boneset. Autumn plants include the large group of asters and goldenrods. They may also visit plants like calendula, dandelions and flowers in the rose family such as strawberries, both wild and cultivated.
Nesting Habits
Small sweat bees are mainly solitary, but again, they can show a gradient of sociality. Most nest in the ground in well-drained, exposed soil but some prefer rotting wood. Due to their diversity, they show different nesting requirements as some species tend to prefer bare ground and others like to under dead litter.
Neat Fact
As their name suggests, they also like to drink sweat, but they are less often seen doing it.
