- Halictus
Taxobox
name = "Halictus"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Hymenoptera
familia =Halictidae
subfamilia =Halictinae
tribus =Halictini
genus = "Halictus"
genus_authority =Latreille , 1804
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =>330 species in 15 subgenera (see text)The genus "Halictus" is a large assemblage of species in the familyHalictidae . The genus is divided into 15 subgenera, containing well over 300 species, primarily in theNorthern Hemisphere (a few species occur inSouth America andAfrica ). Most species are black or dark brown, sometimes metallic greenish-tinted, with apical whitish abdominal bands (the related genus "Lasioglossum ", which is otherwise often similar in appearance, has the abdominal hair bands located basally, not apically).Many species in the genus are
eusocial , with colony sizes range from very small (2-4 bees) to large (>200). Nests are typically underground burrows, with severalovoid "cells" in whichpollen mixed withnectar is provided as food for the developing larvae; a single egg is laid on a pollen mass, and the cell is sealed. Sometimes the cells are arranged in clusters resembling ahoneycomb , but constructed of soil rather thanbeeswax .A few species in the genus have extensive geographic distribution, such as "
Halictus rubicundus ", which spans virtually the entire Northern Hemisphere, and "Halictus ligatus ", which ranges fromCanada toVenezuela . CommonEurope an species include "Halictus quadricinctus " and "Halictus sexcinctus ".External links
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Halictus Halictus Identification Guide]
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Halictus List of Species]
* [http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?kind=Halictus_ Worldwide Species Map]References
*Michener, C.D. (2007). "The Bees of the World". 2nd Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press.
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