LasioglossumLasioglossum (Australictus) peraustrale Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) brunnesetum Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi Lasioglossum willsi – flowers

Photographs by Marc Newman and Gary Taylor â—¦

The genus Lasioglossum are a large and globally widespread genus, that are found across a range of environmental and ecological niches. Whilst they are not perceived as effective pollinators in the commercial world, this view is changing, as the Lasioglossum species are known to not only visit many different flowering plants, but they are known to nest in close aggregations, meaning that they may exist in an area in large numbers.2

Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi, Amiens QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi on Ozothamnus obcordatus, Amiens QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi on Wahlenbergia, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi on Wahlenbergia, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

In some of the photographs, you can see the Lasioglossum bees as they visit flowers, pick up dry pollen on their hairy bodies including their back and hind legs. Dry pollen is known to easily transfer to other flowers, that in itself help plants with pollination required for the development of seeds and fruit.

Lasioglossum (Australictus) peraustrale, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Australictus) peraustrale, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

The genus Lasioglossum nest in deep burrows that they create in the ground. Whilst it is not known whether they use existing burrows, or burrows from previous years, they are found to nest in areas of natural vegetation, especially near their flower plants.

Lasioglossum (Homalictus) urbanus, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Lasioglossum (Homalictus) urbanum, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Lasioglossum (Chililictus) on a "Coastal Moort" Eucalyptus platypus © Gary Taylor
Male Lasioglossum (Chililictus) on a “Coastal Moort” Eucalyptus platypus © Gary Taylor
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Informal: Apiformes
  • Family: Halictidae
  • Subfamily: Halictinae
  • Genus: Lasioglossum
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium on poppies, Severnlea QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium on poppies, Severnlea QLD © Marc Newman

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Marc Newman, Flickr, https://flickr.com/photos/koolbee/albums
  2. Lasioglossum bees – the forgotten pollinators, Nelson, Warrick & Howlett, Brad & Evans, Lisa & Donovan, Barry. (2022). Lasioglossum bees – the forgotten pollinators. Journal of Apicultural Research. 10.1080/00218839.2022.2028966, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358444855_Lasioglossum_bees_-_the_forgotten_pollinators

LasioglossumLasioglossum (Australictus) peraustrale Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) brunnesetum Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi Lasioglossum willsi – flowers

BeesBees Anatomy Bee Behaviour Blogging Bees… Bees – image index Unidentified Australian Native Bees Amegilla Bees Apis mellifera Austroplebeia australis Austrothurgus  Braunsapis sp Ceylalictus perditellus Colletidae Euryglossinae Exoneura Hyleoides bivulnerata Lasioglossum Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Lasioglossum (Homalictus) Leioproctus pappus Lipotriches Megachile Meroglossa Stenotritidae Tetragonula Thyreus Xylocopa