Clearly one of the Lasioglossum calceatum group of bees, although it is fairly large for the genus, with males and females about 8 mm long. Females have mid-brown abdomens with paler apices to the segments; the males are similar, but also have red-brown markings on the anterior tergites of the abdomen. The species may abound within its very restricted range, creating very large nesting aggregations.

One of four brown bumblebees known from the British Isles, two of which, B. muscorum and B. humilis, are declining greatly. B. pascuorum, however, although it may well be less frequent than it used to be, is currently extending its range northward, being fairly recently found on Orkney. It may be seen in a great variety of habitats and is a regular inhabitant of gardens. Identification may be very difficult in the field, unless the black patches on the sides of the abdomen are well-… Read more

One of the socially parasitic bumblebees formerly placed in the genus Psithyrus, which is now regarded as a sub-genus of Bombus. It is known to parasitise the nests of Bombus lucorum. The general distribution is more northerly than that of its look-alike Bombus vestalis, which parasitises B. terrestris. This may be a species which is showing signs of distribution change due to climatic change. The map shows a number of post… Read more

This species was formerly referred to in the British and Irish literature either as a form of Lasioglossum smeathmanellum, with the female gaster mostly black and not metallic (Stelfox 1927), or as a species without a name (R C L Perkins 1935). This neglected species was later considered to consist of two allied, but undescribed species, by A W Ebmer. He described them under the names Lasioglossum scoticum (described from Scotland, but clearly known also from England and Wales) and L. hibernicum (described from Ireland) (Ebmer 1970). Later he considered them to… Read more

Although immediately recognisable as one of the small metallic green Lasioglossum bees, separation from the similarly-sized, and often more numerous, Lasioglossum morio requires a more detailed examination. The round face of the female and the white hind tarsi of the male should be sufficient to confirm L. leucopus.

One of two large metallic green Lasioglossum bees in Britain. This species has a rather blue-green sheen over both the thorax and abdomen which can often be discerned in the field. Although these features often serve to distinguish it from the similarly green L. morio and L. leucopus, separation from the closely related, but more northerly and westerly distributed,… Read more