Ligated Furrow Bee
Halictus ligatus
This record describes Halictus ligatus (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Well-defined basal hair bands, relatively broad apical hair bands; apparently robust head of female with a genal tooth; male antennae pale below; tegula pale. Best separated from H. poeyi based on range OR DNA sequence data in areas of sympatry. female genal tooth Packer et al. (1998) determined H. poeyi and H. ligatus to be a separate species by differences in mitochondrial DNA.
Wikipedia reference for Halictus ligatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halictus_ligatus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Halictidae (Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees)
- Subfamily
- Halictinae
- Tribe
- Halictini
- Genus
- Halictus (Furrow Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
across NA from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico ( Discover Life Map )
Seasonal Activity
Most of the year. Most published records from mid-winter are of H. poeyi from Florida, now regarded as a distinct species
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Halictus (Odontalictus) ligatus Say 1837
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Halictus ligatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Ligated Furrow Bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by cotinis , Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher , ceiseman , v belov , hg , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Ligated Furrow Bee
What is Ligated Furrow Bee?
Ligated Furrow Bee (Halictus ligatus) is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Ligated Furrow Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 8-10 mm |
| Male | Length 7-9 mm |
How do you identify Ligated Furrow Bee?
Well-defined basal hair bands, relatively broad apical hair bands; apparently robust head of female with a genal tooth; male antennae pale below; tegula pale. Best separated from H. poeyi based on range OR DNA sequence data in areas of sympatry. female genal tooth
Where is Ligated Furrow Bee found?
Range: across NA from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico ( Discover Life Map )
What does Ligated Furrow Bee eat?
The diet of the Ligated Furrow Bee includes Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Ligated Furrow Bee active?
Ligated Furrow Bee: seasonal activity - Most of the year. Most published records from mid-winter are of H. poeyi from Florida, now regarded as a distinct species.