Sphecodes ruficrus ( Erichson, 1835 )

Bogusch, Petr & Straka, Jakub, 2012, Review and identification of the cuckoo bees of central Europe (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Sphecodes), Zootaxa 3311, pp. 1-41 : 17

Sphecodes ruficrus ( Erichson, 1835)

Described as: Dichroa ruficrus Erichson, 1835: 101 –102.

Synonyms: Sphecodes hispanicus Wesmael, 1835: 285 –286.

Sphecodes rufipes Smith, 1853: 37 .

Sphecodes gibbus var. tunetanus Gribodo, 1894: 293 –294.

Sphecodes atrohirtus Pérez, 1903 (nomen novum for S. hispanicus Wesmael, 1836 sensu Hagens, 1882 ): CCXIX.

Distribution. South and western Europe: Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Russia. This species extends its distribution area to north-east ( Westrich 1989, Warncke 1992).

Biology. Species of sandy sites, in southern Europe common in such localities. Herrmann (2006) described the biology and hosts. The main host is Andrena humilis , also related species A. livens Pérez and A. taraxaci Giraud are possible hosts of this species. We have studied this species in Spain in association with A. livens . Westrich (1989) reported Andrena decipiens Schenck as a host, but with no further details.