Photo: Lymantria / CC BY 3.0
Sphecodes ephippius
Shiny-headed Blood Bee
A cleptoparasitic blood bee (7–9 mm) with a distinctive red abdomen and black head and thorax. It lays its eggs in the nests of various Lasioglossum and Halictus species, where the larva consumes the host's pollen stores. The female flies from March to September searching for host nests, while males appear from July to October. It is common across Switzerland in a variety of habitats from open woodland to meadows. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 7–9 mm
- Flight Period
- March to October
- Nesting
- Brood parasite
- Specialization
- parasite of Lasioglossum/Halictus
- Abundance
- Common
- Family
- Halictidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Lymantria | CC BY 3.0 |
| Taxonomy & Distribution | InfoFauna Switzerland | Public data |
| Global Distribution | GBIF | CC BY 4.0 |
Data Quality
High Quality Last audit: 2026-05-22
Completeness: 100%
✓Photo exists✓Traits consistent✓Description quality✓Red List referenced✓Attribution verified
Confidence: 67%
IdentifiabilityMediumImage confidenceMediumImage qualityHighTrait coherenceHigh
