Sweat bees
Halictidae
Conservation status: Common
When to see: March to September
About
The adult female sweat bees are predominantly black and metallic, with distinctive white hairs adorning the upper part of their abdominal segments. Unlike other bees, they lack pollen baskets. However, they possess specialized hairs on their hind legs that serve this very purpose. Interestingly, it is usually the females who will alight upon you, as they have a penchant for supplementing their diet with salt and minerals from sweat, which they acquire using their tongue.
| See also different: | Garden bees & wasps |
