# Orange-Legged Furrow Bee (*halictus rubicundus*) The Orange-Legged Furrow Bee is a small but mighty pollinator! With its bright orange legs, it helps flowers grow by spreading pollen as it buzzes from bloom to bloom. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Gardens, fields, and meadows - **Also known as:** Furrow Bee, Ground Bee, Orange Bee ![Orange-Legged Furrow Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Halictus_rubicundus_on_Jacobaea_vulgaris_-_Villeneuve-les-Bouloc_France.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Halictus_rubicundus_on_Jacobaea_vulgaris_-_Villeneuve-les-Bouloc_France.jpg) ## Appearance The Orange-Legged Furrow Bee has a sleek, dark body, often metallic black or brown, and striking reddish-orange hind legs, which give it its name. Its wings are clear, and the abdomen may have faint pale bands. Females are generally larger and more robust. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Halictidae - **Genus:** Halictus ## Interesting facts - Some female bees guard the nest entrance, protecting their family from intruders. - Their shiny, dark bodies absorb sunlight, helping them stay warm on cooler days! - These busy bees often emerge earlier in spring than many other bee species. - Wow! A queen bee sometimes allows her daughters to live in her nest. ## Special abilities - **Pollen Powerhouse:** Orange-Legged Furrow Bee has fuzzy bodies that help them collect and transfer pollen efficiently, boosting plant growth as they fly. - **Seasonal Survivor:** Orange-Legged Furrow Bee queens can overwinter in their burrows because of a unique ability to enter a dormant state, ensuring new generations. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-18 mm - **Size:** 6-9 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 5-15 ## Diet & Feeding These bees are vegetarian, collecting pollen and nectar from various flowers to fuel themselves and feed their young. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Dandelion pollen, Thistle nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its abundant flowers. - **Parasitizes:** Cuckoo Bee (*Sphecodes monilicornis*) — Lays its eggs in the nests of Orange-Legged Furrow Bees. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Insectivorous birds may prey on adult bees. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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 No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Orange-Legged 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 Orange-Legged Furrow Bee's wingspan? 12-18 mm ### How big is Orange-Legged Furrow Bee? 6-9 mm ### How long does Orange-Legged Furrow Bee live? 30-365 days ### How fast can Orange-Legged Furrow Bee fly? 15 km/h ### What does Orange-Legged Furrow Bee eat? These bees are vegetarian, collecting pollen and nectar from various flowers to fuel themselves and feed their young. ### Where is Orange-Legged Furrow Bee usually found? Gardens, fields, and meadows ### How does Orange-Legged Furrow Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park - [Marymoor Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marymoor-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Red Butte Garden and Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-butte-garden-and-arboretum) — Utah, US · Botanical Garden - [Ruedi Reservoir](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruedi-reservoir) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gene-coulon-memorial-beach-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Orange-Legged Furrow Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/orange-legged-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: [Orange-Legged Furrow Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orange-legged-furrow-bee)