Peacock Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum pavonotum
This record describes Lasioglossum pavonotum (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
- Lasioglossum
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"a classic beach dune bee" JSA
Geographic Range
Washington to California Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
February to November
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Recorded on Lupinus, Eschscholzia, Rubus . 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: Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum) pavonotum (Cockerell, 1925) The name references the peacock-like color of the notum (back)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Lasioglossum pavonotum. 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 Peacock Sweat Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Peacock Sweat Bee
How big is Peacock Sweat Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 7.3-9.1 mm |
| Male | Length 6.7-8.4 mm |
Where is Peacock Sweat Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | a classic beach dune bee JSA |
| Range | Washington to California Discover Life Map |
What does Peacock Sweat Bee eat?
The diet of the Peacock Sweat Bee includes Recorded on Lupinus, Eschscholzia, Rubus . The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Peacock Sweat Bee active?
Peacock Sweat Bee: seasonal activity - February to November.