Halictus virgatellus
This record describes Halictus virgatellus (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Halictus virgatellus (Halictus virgatellus) is a species in the family Halictidae, commonly known as sweat, furrow, nomiine, and short-faced bees, belonging to the order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies). It is classified within the subfamily Halictinae, tribe Halictini, superfamily Trigonaloidea. This species belongs to the genus Halictus (Furrow Bees). Active during June.
Identification notes
Key to Northwestern Species in
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
Washington to Colorado west to California. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
June
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 (Seladonia) virgatellus Cockerell, 1901
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Halictus virgatellus. 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 Halictus virgatellus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Halictus virgatellus
What is Halictus virgatellus?
Halictus virgatellus is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Halictus virgatellus?
Key to Northwestern Species in
Where is Halictus virgatellus found?
Range: Washington to Colorado west to California. Discover Life Map
What does Halictus virgatellus eat?
The diet of the Halictus virgatellus 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 Halictus virgatellus active?
Halictus virgatellus: seasonal activity - June.