| Sphecodes majalis, a new bee species for the Netherlands (Hymenoptera: Apidae) A population of Sphecodes majalis was found on a limestone grassland near Maastricht (Limburg). On several occasions more than 10 female and several male specimen were observed. Sphecodes majalis is a parasite of Lasioglossum pallens, which was recorded for the first time in the Netherlands in 1997. Since then L. pallens has become well established in the southern part of the province of Limburg. At the locality where S. majalis was found, L. pallens occurs in large numbers. In April many dozens of males swarm along the woodland edges. The less conspicuous and solitary females mainly nest in dense Festuca rubra swards with a thick litter layer, rather than in the open... |
