Photo: spacebirdy / CC BY-SA 3.0

Halictus quadricinctus

Giant Furrow Bee

The largest Halictus in Central Europe with a black-brown body and four narrow white hair bands often interrupted in the middle. It has rufous-yellow thoracic hair and a robust, powerful flight. Its nest architecture is unique: it builds a freestanding earthen comb in an underground chamber. Females live long enough to cohabit with offspring. In Switzerland it occurs in warm lowlands and valleys. Swiss Red List: Vulnerable (VU).