EN

Sickle-jawed Blood Bee

Sphecodes puncticeps

UnknownLCEULCEU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Sickle-jawed Blood Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of its specialized nesting habitats and the degradation of flower-rich grasslands essential for its host species. Agricultural intensification and urban development have eliminated many of the sandy soils and sparse vegetation areas where this cleptoparasitic bee depends on its Halictus hosts for reproduction. Climate change is altering the timing of host bee emergence, potentially disrupting the precise synchronization required for successful parasitism.

Threat summary

Habitat

This specialized cleptoparasitic bee inhabits open grasslands, heathlands, and coastal dunes with sparse vegetation and exposed sandy soils. It requires proximity to nesting sites of its Halictus host species, typically found in areas with a mosaic of bare ground and flowering plants.

Other threatened species in Halictidae

Shiny DufoureaCR

Shiny Dufourea

Dufourea minuta

Unknown
VU

Red-tailed Blood Bee

Sphecodes rubicundus

Unknown
VU

Yellow Footed Mining Bee

Lasioglossum xanthopus

Unknown
VU

Short-horned Furrow Bee

Lasioglossum brevicorne

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
EN

knopphodeedderkopp

Walckenaeria nodosa

Unknown
EN

Dolichopus notatus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sickle-jawed Blood Bee classified as Endangered?
Sickle-jawed Blood Bee is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Sickle-jawed Blood Bee faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss of its specialized nesting habitats and the degradation of flower-rich grasslands essential for its host species. Agricultural intensification and urban development have eliminated many of the sandy soils and sparse vegetation areas where this cleptoparasitic bee depends on its Halictus hosts for reproduction. Climate change is altering the timing of host bee emergence, potentially disrupting the precise synchronization required for successful parasitism.
Where does Sickle-jawed Blood Bee live?
Sickle-jawed Blood Bee occurs in Åland Islands, American Samoa, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, and Bosnia & Herzegovina (plus 36 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sickle-jawed Blood Bee?
The main threats to Sickle-jawed Blood Bee are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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