# Ligated Furrow Bee (*Halictus ligatus*) The Ligated Furrow Bee is a small, friendly bee that loves to buzz around flowers. They help plants grow by spreading pollen while they collect nectar to eat. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Ligated Furrow Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Halictus_ligatus_f.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halictus_ligatus_f.jpg) ## Appearance The Ligated Furrow Bee has a metallic greenish-gold head and thorax, contrasting with a darker, more slender abdomen. Its abdomen features faint, hairless indentations that give it a subtly striped look. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Halictidae - **Genus:** Halictus ## Interesting facts - A special gland in their abdomen helps female Ligated Furrow Bees mark their underground territory. - The name "ligated" comes from the faint stripe-like indentations on their abdomen! - These bees can sometimes share a nest entrance, but still have their own private tunnels! - They often have two generations of bees born in a single year, one in spring and one in summer. ## Special abilities - **Ground Nesting Genius:** Ligated Furrow Bees can dig intricate burrows underground because they have strong mandibles and specialized legs for excavating soil, protecting their offspring. - **Super Pollinator:** Ligated Furrow Bees have fuzzy bodies that help them collect and transport pollen between flowers, allowing plants to produce seeds and fruits. - **Social Switcher:** Ligated Furrow Bees can be solitary or semi-social, building small communal nests where a mother shares duties with her daughters. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 8-15 mm - **Size:** 4-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-180 days - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 20 ## Diet & Feeding These busy bees sip nectar for energy and collect pollen to feed their young! - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Plant pollen, Honeydew - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goldenrod) (*Solidago canadensis*) — Visits common goldenrod flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Common Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — An important early season pollinator of dandelions. - **Parasitizes:** Cuckoo Bee (*Sphecodes arvensis*) — Female cuckoo bees lay eggs in Ligated Furrow Bee nests. - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Ambush predators that often hide in flowers to catch bees. ## 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. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Bees are usually friendly, but it's best to stay calm and not swat at them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ligated 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 Ligated Furrow Bee's wingspan? 8-15 mm ### How big is Ligated Furrow Bee? 4-8 mm ### How long does Ligated Furrow Bee live? 30-180 days ### What does Ligated Furrow Bee eat? These busy bees sip nectar for energy and collect pollen to feed their young! ### Where is Ligated Furrow Bee usually found? Grasslands ### How does Ligated Furrow Bee hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Ligated Furrow Bee have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Chelsea Parade Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chelsea-parade-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Downtown Ossining Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-ossining-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blithewold-mansion-gardens-and-arboretum) — Rhode Island, US · Botanical Garden - [Brackenridge Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brackenridge-park) — Texas, US · Park [View all places to see Ligated Furrow Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ligated-furrow-bee) ## 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: [Ligated Furrow Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ligated-furrow-bee)