Chalk Furrow Bee
Lasioglossum fulvicorne
The Chalk Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum fulvicorne) is a small, ground-nesting solitary bee with a distinctive golden-brown coloration and metallic sheen. This specialized pollinator plays a crucial role in maintaining plant diversity in chalk grassland ecosystems, visiting a variety of wildflowers including members of the daisy and pea families.
26
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Timofey Levchenko, all rights reserved, uploaded by Timofey Levchenko
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Halictidae
Genus
Lasioglossum
Chalk Furrow Bee belongs to the family Halictidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Chalk Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum fulvicorne) is a small, ground-nesting solitary bee with a distinctive golden-brown coloration and metallic sheen. This specialized pollinator plays a crucial role in maintaining plant diversity in chalk grassland ecosystems, visiting a variety of wildflowers including members of the daisy and pea families. Females excavate burrows in exposed chalk soils where they provision individual cells with pollen and nectar for their developing larvae.
The Chalk Furrow Bee faces significant threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development, which destroys the chalk grasslands and calcareous soils it depends on for nesting. Climate change and the widespread use of pesticides further compound these pressures, reducing both suitable habitat and available food sources from wildflowers.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Chalk grasslands, calcareous downlands, and limestone areas with sparse vegetation where females can excavate ground nests in well-drained alkaline soils. The species requires proximity to diverse wildflower meadows and chalk cliff faces for foraging on native flowering plants.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change altering suitable habitat
Loss of wildflower diversity in grasslands
Pesticide use reducing food sources
Found in 26 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Chalk Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum fulvicorne). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/chalk-furrow-bee