Dull-headed Blood Bee
Sphecodes ferruginatus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphecodes_ferruginatus
Overview
The Dull-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes ferruginatus) is a small cleptoparasitic bee species characterized by its distinctive reddish-brown coloration and relatively subdued head markings compared to other Sphecodes species. As a brood parasite, it infiltrates the nests of ground-nesting solitary bees, particularly mining bees (Andrena species), where females lay their eggs in host cells to exploit provisioned pollen and nectar stores.
The Dull-headed Blood Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which destroys the specialized sandy soils and host plant communities it requires. Climate change and pesticide use further threaten this already rare species, which has an extremely limited distribution and depends on specific host bees for its parasitic lifestyle.
Habitat
Sphecodes ferruginatus inhabits flower-rich grasslands, chalk downs, and heathland edges where its host mining bees establish nesting aggregations in well-drained, sparsely vegetated soils. The species requires diverse flowering plant communities that bloom throughout the active season to support both its own nectar needs and those of its essential host species.
Other threatened species in Halictidae
Threatened in Åland Islands
Frequently asked questions
Why is Dull-headed Blood Bee classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Dull-headed Blood Bee live?
What are the main threats to Dull-headed Blood Bee?
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