# Great Banded Furrow Bee (*Halictus scabiosae*) The Great Banded Furrow Bee is a small, fuzzy bee that loves to buzz around flowers. They are important for helping plants grow by spreading pollen as they collect nectar. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Great Banded Furrow Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Halictus_scabiosae_female_on_Rubus_plicatus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Halictus_scabiosae_female_on_Rubus_plicatus.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Banded Furrow Bee is a small bee, typically metallic greenish-bronze. It has distinct pale, hairless bands that stand out on its dark, segmented abdomen, giving it a unique striped appearance compared to many other furrow bees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Halictidae - **Genus:** Halictus ## Interesting facts - Queens often recognize their own daughters inside the shared nest! - Some female bees share a nest entrance, even though they mostly lay their own eggs! - Their name 'furrow bee' comes from tiny grooves on their face! - They help wild flowers grow by spreading their pollen far and wide! ## Special abilities - **Burrow Builder:** Great Banded Furrow Bees can dig intricate underground nests because of their strong legs, that helps them create safe homes for their young. - **Winter Survivor:** Great Banded Furrow Bee queens can overwinter as adults, helping them survive cold months to start new nests in spring. - **Vibration Communicator:** Great Banded Furrow Bees use vibrations to communicate with other bees in their nest, helping them share important information. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-18 mm - **Size:** 6-9 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-300 days - **Flight Speed:** 15-25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 10-30 ## Diet & Feeding These bees drink flower nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their babies. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, flower pollen, wild carrot pollen, chicory pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Chicory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chicory) (*Cichorium intybus*) — Gathers pollen and nectar. - **Pollinates:** Wild Carrot (*Daucus carota*) — An important source of pollen. - **Parasitizes:** White-lipped Cuckoo Bee (*Sphecodes albilabris*) — Lays eggs in their nests. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be gentle and calm around bees; they usually won't bother you if you don't bother them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Banded Furrow Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Great Banded Furrow Bee's wingspan? 12-18 mm ### How big is Great Banded Furrow Bee? 6-9 mm ### How long does Great Banded Furrow Bee live? 20-300 days ### How fast can Great Banded Furrow Bee fly? 15-25 km/h ### What does Great Banded Furrow Bee eat? These bees drink flower nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their babies. ### Where is Great Banded Furrow Bee usually found? Grasslands ### How does Great Banded Furrow Bee hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Great Banded Furrow Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-banded-furrow-bee)