Lasioglossum zephyrum

Description

Lasioglossum zephyrum is a sweat bee of the family Halictidae, found in the U.S. and Canada. It is considered a primitively eusocial bee (meaning that they do not have a permanent division of labor within colonies), although it may be facultatively solitary (i.e., displaying both solitary and eusocial behaviors). The species nests in underground burrows and has been observed forcing open unbloomed flowers of species Xyris tennesseensis to extract the pollen, ensuring first and exclusive access.