Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 291

Halictus confusus is a small bee species with a length of 7 millimeters. It has a greenish head and thorax, black abdomen with metallic greenish highlights, and blackish legs. The males have yellow mandibles and labrum, reddish wing venation, and yellowish stripes on the legs. It is found in Europe, Asia, and North America, with different subspecies in different regions. It is associated with sandy areas in Britain but is more generalist in other areas. It is a polylectic bee that feeds on a variety of flowers and exhibits eusocial behavior. It faces predation from spiders, bugs, and ants, and is parasitized by flies, beetles, fungi, and nematodes.