BTB Halictus subauratus (Rossi, 1792) Golden Furrow Bee
Family: Halictidae.
Length: 5.5 to 6mm Female, 5 to 5.5mm Male.
Flight season: Females normally appear on wing before the males, late April till September.
Males: from June to September.
The Golden Furrow Bee is present in most of the warmer countries of Europe, as far north as England’s southern coastline and into North African countries.
This species is considered to be eusocial. Nesting in sandy and clay soils, mainly found nesting in small groups of other furrow bees.
The males die after mating in the autumn, after mating the females will live on and hibernate throughout winter. Then the females will then go on and live, until the next generation start to emerge from their pupae around July to August.
Habitat: Found in various open spaces, grasslands of various sorts, especially sunny flowery habitats. Will take nectar and pollen from different families of plants, but has a preference for thistles, knapweeds and various chrysanthemum-type species.