20 kinds match COMPARE IMAGES THUMBNAILS MAP

Halictus confusus  [popup] female Halictus confusus  [popup] male Halictus farinosus  [popup] female Halictus farinosus  [popup] male Halictus harmonius  [popup] female Halictus harmonius  [popup] male Halictus ligatus  [popup] female Halictus ligatus  [popup] male Halictus parallelus  [popup] female Halictus parallelus  [popup] male Halictus poeyi  [popup] female Halictus poeyi  [popup] male Halictus rubicundus  [popup] female Halictus rubicundus  [popup] male Halictus tectus  [popup] female Halictus tectus  [popup] male Halictus tripartitus  [popup] female Halictus tripartitus  [popup] male Halictus virgatellus  [popup] female Halictus virgatellus  [popup] male

REMAINING (number with state)
Body length, in mm
 8 (12)
 9 (12)
 10 (10)
 11 (10)
 7 (10)
 12 (7)
 6 (7)
 13 (5)
 14 (4)
 5 (4)
 4 (3)
 15 (2)
 3 (2)
Female - H. parallelus vs H. rubicundus
 H. parallelus - Distance between lateral ocelli less than between distance between lateral ocelli and rear of head - Region between pits on scutum does not reflect light - The tibial spur on the rear leg that is nearest the abdomen has small uniformly spaced teath, often difficult to see due to the position of the leg and the need for high magnification (1)
 H. rubicundus - Distance between lateral ocelli greater than between distance between lateral ocelli and rear of head - Region between pits on scutum reflective and clearly reflects the light from microscopes - The tibial spur on the rear leg that is nearest the abdomen has teeth that clearly range in size (1)
Female, H. confusus vs H. tripartitus
 H. confusus - Subantennal suture 9/10 as long as distance between junctures of epistomal suture with subantennal sutures, thus making the supraclypeus appear nearly square - Central dorsal portion of propodium with irregular rugae, not forming a clear pattern of basal striations - H. confusus is slightly larger in direct comparison (1)
 H. tripartitus - Subantennal sutures 6/10 as long as distance between junctures of epistomal suture with subantennal sutures, thus making the supraclypeus somewhat rectangular - Central dorsal triangular portion of propodium with a linear pattern of parallel bumps, rugulae, or striations radiating from the base where it joins the metanotum (1)
Female, H. confusus vs. H. virgatellus
 H. confusus - Metallic sheen of integument usually clearly a dark green, most visible on scutum, although some specimens may appear dark, particularly if poorly prepared - Malar space, the distance between the base of the mandible and the bottom of the eye, short, its minimum length often half the width of the rim of the compound eye - Striations in the dorsal propodeal triangle often but not always running fully to the rim of the triangle, filling or nearly filling the triangle and often terminating with a series of distinct, transverse striations which traverse the width of the triangle before the transition to the vertical, rear face of the propodeum (1)
 H. virgatellus - Metallic sheen of the integument often black with only weak dark green reflections, usually appearing black - Malar space long, its minimum length equal to or exceeding the width of the rim of the compound eye - Dorsal propodeal triangle often but not always unsculptured along the rim, distinct striations extending only 40-70 percent of the way to the rim with this unsculptured area appearing distinctly less roughened than the basal area of the triangle, may or may not have transverse striations, although they usually appear weaker and of lesser width than those of H. confusus (1)
Female, H. farinosus vs H. rubicundus
 H. farinosus - usually larger, 12-16mm outer margin of inner tibial spur on hind leg with small regular teeth surface between pits on T1 dull apical hair band on T1 evenly thick medially as laterally (1)
 H. rubicundus - usually smaller, 10-12mm outer margin of inner tibial spur on hind leg with irregular teeth surface between pits on T1 shiny apical hair band on T1 narrows medially (1)
Female, H. parallelus vs H. farinosus
 H. farinosus - Distance between lateral ocelli greater than or equal to the distance from the lateral ocelli to back of rim of the head - Basitibial plate more u shaped, rounded - Foretibia brown - Reflectivity of the scutellum between pits shiny (1)
 H. parallelus - Distance between lateral ocelli less than the distance from lateral ocelli to back rim of the head - Basitibial plate more v shaped, angled - Foretibia reddish or yellowish - Reflectivity of the scutellum between pits dull (1)
Female, H. rubicundus vs. H. virgatellus
 H. rubicundus - Overall color dark brown, no metallic reflections - T1 dull between pits - Comparatively much larger (1)
 H. virgatellus - Overall color dark brown, but normally with strong metallic reflections, particularly on the scutum - T1 shiny between pits - Comparatively much smaller (1)
Female, H. tripartitus vs H. virgatellus
 H. tripartitus - Head comparatively short, hinge of mandible abuts the bottom of the eye - Striations of the dorsal triangle clear and well formed into neat parallel lines - Pits on scutum and scutellum comparatively smaller, slightly wider spaced, and surface uniformly smooth and shiny - Size comparatively smaller (1)
 H. virgatellus - Head comparatively long, with a clear space between bottom of the eye and the hinge of the mandible - Striations of the dorsal triangle vague and not forming neat columns - Pits on scutum and scutellum comparatively larger, closely spaced, and surface slightly more undulating between the pits - Size comparatively larger (1)
Female, head, cheeks
 Rounded below (8)
 Bottom rear with a very noticeable point or knob - Usually have to turn specimen over to see (2)
Female, hind leg, inner tibial spur, this is the spur closest to the abdomen, teeth - At times very difficult to see, view with high magnification
 Inner spur with IRREGULARLY sized teeth, often with spaces between each, on spur closest to the abdomen (6)
 Inner spur with REGULAR AND CONTINUOUS teeth on spur closest to abdomen (6)
Female, thorax, scutum, reflectivity of surface between pits
 Shining, usually hatched by small microscopic lines, but still clearly reflecting light - watch for dirty specimens (9)
 Dull, heavily lined, tessellate, reflecting almost no light (5)
Females, H. confusus VERSUS H. tripartitus -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. confusus --- Thorax, pronotum, dorso-ventral ridge: broadly rounded, never sharply-edged - - Thorax, propodeum, posterior margin: usually truncate medially, not evenly crescentic - - Overall pitting: coarser, especially notable on frons - - Head, compound eyes: weakly converging below, thus face narrowed below - - Thorax, propodeal triangle: usually with weakly reticulate sculpturing dorsally, and weak, narrow transverse ridges adjacent to the medial portion of the posterior margin of the propodeum - - NOTE: H. tectus has been introduced on the east coast recently—it is similar to the native H. confusus but has minute pits on the tergites that are noticeably smaller than the pits on the scutum, whereas in H. confusus the pits of the tergites and scutum are the same size. H tectus also has conspicuous white or yellowish appressed hairs on the posterior face of the propodeum and elsewhere on the body, but H. confusus lacks these appressed hairs. (1)
 H. tripartitus --- Thorax, pronotum, dorso-ventral ridge: narrowly rounded to sharply-edged - - Thorax, propodeum, posterior margin: usually evenly crescentic in outline - - Overall pitting: exceptionally fine and close, this especially notable on the frons - - Head, compound eyes: parallel such that face NOT narrowed below - - Thorax, propodeal triangle: usually with weak, largely linear sculpturing stretching from base to approximate posterior margin of propodeum (1)
Females, H. ligatus VERSUS H. parallelus and H. rubicundus -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. parallelus and H. rubicundus --- Head, gena: rounded, not angulate - - Legs, hind, tibial spurs: otherwise (2)
 H. ligatus --- Head, gena: with a distinct toothlike or angulate process along ventral-posterior margin - - Legs, hind, tibial spur: with one large basal tooth, serrated beyond this tooth - - NOTE: the recently-recognized H. poeyi is genetically distinct from H. ligatus but morphologically very similar. Characteristics that can be used to differentiate the two species are currently being investigated. (1)
Females, H. parallelus VERSUS H. rubicundus -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. parallelus --- Head, vertex: taller, i.e. distance from midocellus to interantennal line about equal to distance from midocellus to crest of vertex - - Legs, hind, tibial spur: serrate, without distinctly separate teeth - - Wings: darker brown - - NOTE: the western H. farinosus is similar to H. parallelus and may overlap in range with H. parallelus further east than expected, especially in the Great Plains. H. farinosus females have the hind tibial spur similar to that of H. parallelus, but a shorter vertex, more like that of H. rubicundus, and H. farinosus has longer, erect hairs on the pronotal collar, while H. parallelus has short, dense, suberect hairs on the pronotal collar. (1)
 H. rubicundus --- Head, vertex: short, i.e. distance from midocellus to interantennal line nearly twice the distance from midocellus to crest of vertex - - Legs, hind, tibial spur: with 4-6 widely-spaced, separate teeth - - Wings: light in color, pale brown at most (1)
Females, thorax -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. ligatus, H. parallelus, and H. rubicundus --- blackish without metallic tints (3)
 H. confusus and H. tripartitus --- dull metallic green or blueish, occasionally blackish with metallic tints (2)
H. confusus vs H. tectus
 H. confusus - Common native species - The striated region of the upper portion of propodeum longitudinally longer than metanotum - Body hairs primarily tan-gold in color - Lacking any significant amount of appressed hairs of any color except along rims of terga (2)
 H. tectus - Rare recent European arrival - The striated region of the upper portion of propodeum longitudinally shorter than metanotum - Body hairs primarily bright white - Usually body is densely covered with short, bright white appressed hairs, particularly noticeable on the rear face of the propodeum (2)
H. ligatus vs H. poeyi
 H. ligatus - Morphologically similar to H. poeyi - Populations above Virginia are all thought to be H. ligatus (2)
 H. poeyi - Morphologically similar to H. ligatus - Populations in Florida are all thought to be H. poeyi (2)
Male, H. confusus vs H. tripartitus
 H. confusus - Leg, front trochanter and femur both the same shade of uniform light yellow-orange - Head, antenna, underside a bright yellow-orange that contrasts sharply with the brown on the upper side - In direct comparison, larger with a longer head (1)
 H. tripartitus - Leg, front trochanter brown and the adjacent basal end of the femur the same color, quickly transitioning to a light yellow-orange throughout the last three quarters of the femur - Head, antenna, underside about the same color brown as the upper side, though usually slightly lightening to a dull yellow-brown - In direct comparison, smaller with a shorter head (1)
Male, abdomen, S4, presence of a fringe of hairs bordering the rim - Look from the side as these hairs while abundant are thin and prostrate
 Absent (8)
 Present (7)
Male, abdomen, S5, rim
 Straight or only very slightly concave (8)
 Concave in the center, or angled inward (6)
Male, antenna, flagella color
 Black or Dark Brown on top and bright rusty red, brown or yellowish beneath (8)
 Entirely black, may have a VERY DULL yellow or brown cast to the underside (4)
Male, fore leg, trochanter and femur, color
 Both segments primarily dark colored, sometimes with small light patches present (7)
 Trochanter largely dark colored and femur largely light colored (3)
 Both segments primarily light colored, with some dark patches possibly present (1)
Male, head, mandible color
 Some dull to bright yellow pigmentation present (10)
 Black or brown (3)
Male, thorax, propodeal triangle
 Raised lines or striations radiating from the base toward the rim are present, these striations may be present only on the lateral sides, raised bumps can occur in between these striations so look closely before thinking striations are not there (8)
 Uniform granular bumps, rugulose, or a chained network of raised lines present with no striations (5)
Males, H. confusus VERSUS H. tripartitus -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. confusus --- Head, face: longer, i.e. nearly all of clypeus extending below the suborbital line - - Thorax, propodeum, dorsal surface: finely rugose or finely reticulate-striate in its entirety, without a smooth and shiny posterior margin - - Genitalia, gonocoxite: laterally simple, lacking any projection - - NOTE: H. tectus has been introduced on the east coast recently, and it is similar to H. confusus, but with conspicuous white or yellowish appressed hairs all over the body, especially on the anterior face of T1 where they mostly conceal the integument. In contrast, in H. confusus males the hairs on the anterior face of T1 are erect, not appressed, and the integument is clearly visible underneath the hairs. (1)
 H. tripartitus --- Head, face: short, i.e. about half of clypeus extends below the suborbital line - - Thorax, propodeum, dorsal surface: finely striate with a smooth and shiny posterior margin - - Genitalia, gonocoxite: laterally with a very narrow vertical projection which is separate from the gonostylus (1)
Males, H. ligatus VERSUS H. parallelus -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. ligatus --- Thorax, propodeal triangle: finely rugose to rugoso-striate, lacking any pits - - Abdomen, S2-S4: with longer, SUBERECT hairs more-or-less throughout - - Genitalia, gonostylus, inner margin: without anything resembling a comb - - Body length: usually smaller, 10 mm or less - - Wings: lighter in color - - NOTE: the recently-recognized H. poeyi is genetically distinct from H. ligatus but morphologically very similar. Characteristics that can be used to differentiate the two species are currently being investigated. (1)
 H. parallelus --- Thorax, propodeal triangle: extremely finely and densely rugoso-punctate - - Abdomen, S2-S4: with very fine, short, APPRESSED hairs, lacking any long, suberect hairs even laterally - - Genitalia, gonostylus, inner margin: with a comb of 6 or so distinct setae - - Body length: usually 12mm or longer - - Wings: typically brownish - - NOTE: the western H. farinosus is similar to H. parallelus and may overlap in range with H. parallelus further east than expected, especially in the Great Plains. H. farinosus has lighter wings and a shorter vertex than H. parallelus. In addition, the tergal pits are very fine and close in H. farinosus, much more so than those on the scutum, but in H. parallelus the tergal pits are much like those of the scutum in size and density. (1)
Males, H. rubicundus VERSUS H. ligatus and H. parallelus -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 › H. ligatus and H. parallelus --- Abdomen, S4, apical margin: straight to very weakly concave and without a fringe of dense hairs (2)
 H. rubicundus --- Abdomen, S4, apical margin: weakly concave and bordered with a narrow fringe of dense hairs - - Thorax, propodeal triangle: dorsally rugose-reticulate (1)
Males, thorax -- Modified from Mike Arduser Key
 H. ligatus, H. parallelus, and H. rubicundus --- blackish without metallic tints (3)
 H. confusus and H. tripartitus --- dull metallic green or bluish-green to blackish-green (2)
Sex, number of antennal segments
 Female, 12 (10)
 Male, 13 (10)
State or province where bee was collected
 AZ (14)
 CA (14)
 CO (14)
 ID (14)
 MT (14)
 NM (14)
 UT (14)
 WY (14)
 Alberta (12)
 British Columbia (12)
 DC (12)
 DE (12)
 MD (12)
 NJ (12)
 NV (12)
 OR (12)
 PA (12)
 SD (12)
 TX (12)
 VA (12)
 WA (12)
 AL (10)
 FL (10)
 GA (10)
 IA (10)
 KS (10)
 MN (10)
 MO (10)
 MS (10)
 NC (10)
 ND (10)
 NE (10)
 NY (10)
 SC (10)
 TN (10)
 WV (10)
 IL (9)
 AR (8)
 CT (8)
 IN (8)
 KY (8)
 LA (8)
 MA (8)
 ME (8)
 MI (8)
 NH (8)
 OH (8)
 OK (8)
 Ontario (8)
 Quebec (8)
 RI (8)
 VT (8)
 WI (8)
 Manitoba (6)
 New Brunswick (6)
 Nova Scotia (6)
 Saskatchewan (6)
 AK (4)
 Newfoundland and Labrador (4)
 Northwest Territories (4)
 Prince Edward Island (3)
Subgenus
 Seladonia (10)
 Nealictus (4)
 Odontalictus (4)
 Protohalictus (2)
Thorax, color - If your microscope light is not bright you may see the dark greens and blues as black
 Black to dark brown - NO metallic reflections - Clypeus is clearly the same dark brown or black as the rest of the head and thorax (10)
 DARK metallic brassy green or blue - Note, poor light or very high magnification can make this hard to see - The clypeus is brown and clearly much darker than the rest of the head and thorax which has dark, usually brassy, metallic green or bluish reflections (10)