Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Sweat Bees--Halictidae

Halictid bee

Yesterday's heteropteran was Halticus, a flea hopper, and member of the tribe Halticini. Today's sweat bee is a member of the family Halictidae, anglicized to "halictid." Confusing? It is for me. If I'd learned the names "Halticus" and "halictid" by ear I'd have no problem, for they don't sound alike. It's a confusion that comes visually. In any case, there's no mistaking a sweat bee for a flea hopper in the garden. My hand is still itching from my latest sweat bee encounter, while only my perennial border suffers from the flea hopper.

Halictid bee

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