This tiny furrow bee appears to be the commonest of three ‘metallic’ Lasioglossum which occur in Ireland. Females are rarely any larger than 6 or 7mm and males are around 1mm smaller again, so a good eye is needed to spot this species. It is difficult to separate from the two other metallic Lasioglossum and examining a specimen under high magnification is needed to confidently identify it. The females possess a more densely-punctured thorax when compared to both L. cupromicans and L. smeathmanellum.

Distribution in Ireland: Widely distributed in Ireland but fewer records exist from central, northern and western areas, although it is probablyprone to under-recording due to its small size. Particularly well-recorded along the east coast.

Flight period: Females fly from late March – early October, with males flying from July-September.

Habitat: Wide ranging, including brownfield sites, woodland edges, coastal cliffs, heathland, bogland margins, parks and gardens. It has a broader range of habitat preferences than the other metallic Lasioglossum.

Flowers visited: Various, including dandelions, Tormentil, hawk-bits and daisies. Females are polylectic.

Personal records: I have recorded this species at several sites in Co. Down, including Sprucefield, Killard Point, Murlough, Clonacullion Wood, Bloody Birdge and Lagan Meadows. It can be locally common at suitable sites. Nesting occurs in south-facing banks on a variety of soils, including sand, clay and soft-rock, usually singly but sometimes in loose aggregations with other species too. It has one of the broadest ranges of habitat preferences of all Irish Lasioglossum. It is a host of Sphecodes geoffrellus.