A hairy-tongue bee

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A hairy-tongue bee

Scientific Name

(Lasioglossum nymphale)

Lasioglossum nymphale is said to be one of the more common bees in the world (1). It historically ranged from Massachusetts south to Florida and Texas, and west towards Minnesota (2). In Maryland, the species was not known to be native to the state until a survey on Assateague Island was conducted over 15 years ago (3).

Photo by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, MD, USA.Public Domain.

Identification

Identifying Lasioglossum bees can be difficult, especially those in the Dialictus subgenus of which L. nymphale belongs to (4, 5). Only several Lasioglossum bees have a red abdomen and L. nymphale is one of them (5). The species also has a pale green head and thorax, dark brown antennae, and brown legs with yellow feet. The body is covered with dense white hairs (2, 6). Male Lasioglossum in general have a thinner body and longer antennae when compared with females (4).

Lasioglossum nymphale is similar in characteristics to the recently discovered and nearby L. arantium. However, L. nymphale has a larger range, and in Maryland, appears to be restricted to Assateague Island (3, 6).

Female. Photo by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, MD, USA.Public Domain.

Life cycle

Most Lasioglossum bees nest in the ground, including L. nymphale (4, 5). These bees typically have females hibernate separately from the nest, emerging in spring to lay eggs in a nest of their own. Lasioglossum queen and worker bees are only distinct in behavior, where any dominant female can become a queen and be replaced if she dies. The primary female seals itself in the nest until the first generation of female bees hatch, and then they all go out to collect nectar and pollen. The next generation introduces males who mate and restart the cycle (4).

Lasioglossum nymphale is seen from March to October (2). In a survey on Assateague Island more than 15 years ago, L. nymphale was one of the most common bees found in the spring (3). Lasioglossum bees are generalists but are the best pollinators of sunflowers (Asteraceae) (4). However, L. nymphale can also visit flowers of the Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Lamiaceae, Portulacaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Rosaceae families (2, 6).

Habitat

Lasioglossum nymphale specializes in sandy habitats such as the Assateague Island shore (3, 6).

Distribution in Maryland

Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.

Distribution in US

Data from Gibbs, J. 2011.

How can you help?

Given the island's popularity as a tourist site, it is possible humans are impacting the natural habitat (3). The majority of Maryland's portion of Assateague Island is owned by the state and federal government. Supporting their efforts to preserve the island, as well as being mindful of leaving flora and sand habitats undisturbed when visiting, can help protect this species.

Example of Plants

Seaside goldenrod

(Solidago sempervirens)

Photo by Famartin.Under the license: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International.

Virginia pepperweed

(Lepidium virginicum)

Photo by Forest & Kim Starr.Under the license: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International.

References

USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab. 2020. Lasioglossum nymphale, side_2012-07-31-17.30.41 ZS PMax. flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/49517718812. Last accessed 20 April 2022.
Mitchell, T. B. 1960. Bees of the Eastern United States I. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, 1(141): 490.
Orr, R. 2010. Preliminary list of the Bees (Hymenoptera:Apoidea) of Assateague Island National Seashore Worchester County, Maryland. Mid-Atlantic Invertebrate Field Studies. http://www.http://www.marylandinsects.com/ReportASISBees.pdf. Last accessed 20 April 2022.
Carril, O. M. and Wilson, J. S. 2015. The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees. Princeton University, 122-136.
Carril, O. M., and J. S. Wilson. 2021. Common Bees of Eastern North America. Princeton University, 123: 53-57.
Gibbs, J. 2011. Revision of the metallic Lasioglossum (Dialictus) of eastern North America (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Halicitini). Magnolia Press, 3073(1).

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