Nomioidinae

Nomioidinae is a subfamily of bees in the family Halictidae, commonly known as sweat bees. The rank and composition of Nomioidinae have varied among taxonomic treatments; some classifications recognize Nomioidinae as a distinct subfamily, while others place it as a tribe within Halictinae. The name derives from the type genus Nomia, which anchors the group’s defining lineage in many classifications.

Members of Nomioidinae are typically small to medium-sized bees with diverse coloration, occasionally displaying metallic reflections. They are generally ground-nesting, excavating nests in bare or sparsely vegetated soil. Female bees provision brood cells with pollen and nectar collected from a variety of flowering plants, making them important pollinators in many ecosystems.

Ecology and behavior within Nomioidinae range from solitary to primitively eusocial life histories. Some species exhibit social structures with cooperative nesting or division of labor, while others nest and raise offspring independently. Their foraging activity often aligns with the availability of floral resources, and they can be active across a broad range of habitats, from temperate to tropical zones.

Distribution covers a wide geographic area, with greatest diversity in temperate regions of the Palearctic and Nearctic, and extensions into tropical zones in some lineages. As with many bees, Nomioidinae face pressures from habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change, which can affect nesting sites and floral resources. Conservation measures focusing on habitat preservation and the maintenance of diverse flowering plant communities help support their populations.