Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 242

The bee species Sphecodes albilabris is approximately 11-14 mm in length and has a transpalaearctic distribution. It can be found in various regions including North Africa, Europe, Central Asia, Siberia, Far East, and India. The habitats where it is commonly found are inland dunes, sand fields, grasslands, and flood dams. The species flies from March to October, with females flying from March to August and males from July to October. It is a parasite of other bee species, including Colletes cunicularius, Halictus sexcinctus, Halictus quadricinctus, and Melitturga clavicornis. The etymology of the species name comes from the Latin words for "white" and "lip," referring to the snow-white hairy lower half of the male's face. It is also known by the synonym Sphecodes fuscipennis.