Smeathman's Furrow-bee - Lasioglossum smeathmanellum

One of four metallic green Lasioglossum bees in Britain. This species has a rather blue-green sheen over both the thorax and abdomen which can often be discerned in the field. Although these features often serve to distinguish it from the similarly green L. morio and L. leucopus, separation from the closely related, but more northerly and westerly distributed, L. cupromicans requires considerable care and microscopic examination. L. smeathmanellum has a scutum with sparse punctures of different sizes and a propodeum that has a rugose (wrinkled) texture.

L. cupromicans has a smooth and shiny propodeum.

• wing length 4-4.5mm
• metallic green head, thorax and abdomen
• sparse and uneven punctures on the scutellum
• rugose propodeum

Favours habitats such as soft-rock cliffs and brownfield sites

Females fly between late March and September, males are found between July and September.

As with all British Lasioglossum, only mated females hibernate. Many types of flower are visited but especially composites. 

This is a widespread and locally common species from southern England, and Wales north to Northumberland. It is gradually replaced by the closely related Lasioglossum cupromicans towards the north, and in upland situations, particularly in the South-west.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.