Dufourea stagei

Stage's Dufourine Bee

Family: Halictidae · Class: Insecta · Order: Hymenoptera

Conservation status: G1G2 S1

Dufourea stagei, known as Stage's Dufourine Bee, is a solitary bee in the family Halictidae. This species belongs to the subfamily Halictinae and represents one of the lesser-studied members of the genus Dufourea in California. Adult females are typically small, measuring approximately 6-8 mm in length, with the compact, robust build characteristic of halictid bees. Males are generally smaller than females. The species displays the dark metallic coloration typical of many Dufourea species, though specific morphological details distinguishing D. stagei from closely related taxa have not been well documented in accessible literature. The geographic range of Stage's Dufourine Bee appears to be restricted to California, though specific distribution details remain poorly documented. Based on the Global/State Rank of G1G2 S1, this species has an extremely limited range and is considered critically imperiled both globally and within California. The precise counties or regions where this species occurs have not been clearly established in current scientific literature. Habitat requirements for D. stagei have not been thoroughly documented. Like other members of the genus Dufourea, this species likely inhabits areas with suitable nesting substrates and appropriate floral resources. Many Dufourea species are associated with sandy soils for ground-nesting, though the specific substrate preferences of D. stagei remain unknown. Elevation range and vegetation associations for this species have not been reported in accessible sources. Behavioral and ecological information for Stage's Dufourine Bee is extremely limited. As a member of Dufourea, this species is presumed to be solitary, with females constructing individual nests and provisioning cells with pollen and nectar for their offspring. Flight period, host plant preferences, and reproductive biology have not been documented in available literature. Many Dufourea species are oligolectic, specializing on specific plant families, but the floral associations of D. stagei are unknown. The conservation status of D. stagei reflects significant concern for this species' persistence. The Global Rank of G1G2 indicates the species is critically imperiled to imperiled globally, with very few populations or occurrences. The State Rank of S1 demonstrates that the species is critically imperiled in California, suggesting fewer than five occurrences or very few remaining individuals. No federal or state listing status has been assigned, though the extremely restricted rank suggests this species warrants conservation attention. Primary threats likely include habitat loss and fragmentation, though specific threats have not been identified. The limited available data suggests urgent need for basic biological and distributional research to inform conservation planning. Scientific documentation for this species remains extremely limited. This species is included on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Special Animals List. If you have verified information about Stage's Dufourine Bee's biology, distribution, or ecology, please contact Species List Pro to help improve this species account.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.