False Margined Blood Bee
Sphecodes miniatus
The False Margined Blood Bee (Sphecodes miniatus) is a small cleptoparasitic bee species with a distinctive metallic black head and thorax contrasted by a bright red abdomen. As a brood parasite, it infiltrates the nests of solitary ground-nesting bees, laying its eggs in host cells where its larvae consume the provisions intended for the host's offspring.
28
Countries
Photo: (c) halinaa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by halinaa
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Halictidae
Genus
Sphecodes
False Margined Blood Bee belongs to the family Halictidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The False Margined Blood Bee (Sphecodes miniatus) is a small cleptoparasitic bee species with a distinctive metallic black head and thorax contrasted by a bright red abdomen. As a brood parasite, it infiltrates the nests of solitary ground-nesting bees, laying its eggs in host cells where its larvae consume the provisions intended for the host's offspring. This specialized lifestyle makes it entirely dependent on healthy populations of its specific host bee species.
The False Margined Blood Bee (Sphecodes miniatus) faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized nesting sites and host plant communities. As a cleptoparasitic bee species that depends on specific host bees, it is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the ecological relationships that support both its hosts and the flowering plants they depend on.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Sphecodes miniatus inhabits open sandy heathlands, coastal dunes, and flower-rich grasslands with sparse vegetation where its host bees construct their ground nests. The species requires areas with exposed sandy or light soil patches adjacent to diverse flowering plants that support both adult nectar feeding and host bee populations.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The False Margined Blood Bee (Sphecodes miniatus) faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized nesting sites and host plant communities. As a cleptoparasitic bee species that depends on specific host bees, it is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the ecological relationships that support both its hosts and the flowering plants they depend on.
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Loss of host bee populations
Climate change affecting flowering phenology
Urban development and land conversion
Found in 28 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | 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). False Margined Blood Bee (Sphecodes miniatus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/false-margined-blood-bee