the Americas from southern Canada to northern South America and the Caribbean
Fine-art photographic collection
Halictus ligatus
A sweat bee whose society changes with weather, latitude and the balance of power between queen and workers.
About this species
Halictus ligatusSay, 1837
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Halictus ligatus is a widely distributed American sweat bee that forms small annual eusocial colonies. A queen starts the nest and produces workers, but colony size, worker reproduction and the strength of queen control vary markedly across climates and years.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Halictidae · Halictus
Accepted taxon. · checked 2026-07-15
the Americas from southern Canada to northern South America and the CaribbeanBroad range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Open ground with suitable nesting soil near abundant flowers, including farms, gardens and grassland.
Diurnal during the flowering season.
Adults and larvae depend on nectar and pollen.
Small annual eusocial colonies founded by a single overwintered female.
What makes this species remarkable?
The same species can build very different societies: weather and season length alter colony size, worker reproduction and how strongly the queen dominates.
Workers are not always sterile; in favourable large colonies they may lay a substantial share of the reproductive eggs.
Individuals often show strong flower constancy, repeatedly visiting one plant type and moving its pollen with unusual reliability.