Lasioglossum zephyrus
Lasioglossum zephyrus is a sweat bee of the family Halictidae, found in the U.S. and Canada. It appears in the literature primarily under the misspelling "zephyrum". It is considered a primitively eusocial bee (meaning that they do not have a permanent division of labor within colonies), although it may be facultatively solitary (i.e., displaying both solitary and eusocial behaviors). The species nests in burrows in the soil. Taxonomy and phylogeny The order Hymenoptera contains more eusocial species than any other order. Eusociality has many origins and is present in many degrees within Hymenoptera, with L. zephyrus being one of the more primitive examples. The genus Lasioglossum is predominantly eusocial, but has a high level of variation in sociality. For instance, Lasioglossum zephyrus, as well as another species of this family of bees, Halictidae, Halictus ligatus, are known for their characteristic primitively eusocial behavior. This unique type of eusociality gives insight about the evolutionary background of eusociality of these species. Six species within this genus have reverted to solitary life, social polymorphism, or parasitism. Description and identification Lasioglossum zephyrus is characterized by its dark green metallic color, reddish abdomen, and a hairier face than most other species. Males are 6 to