Halictus rubicundus is a species of sweat bee found throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

It is
small (~1 cm), dark brown, with fine white bands across the apices of the abdominal segments.
[1] The males are more slender, with longer antennae and yellow markings on the face and legs;
they are distinguished from males of similar species by the absence of an apical hair band on the
terminal abdominal segment.[1]
H. rubicundus was introduced into North America from the Old World during one of two main
invasions of Halictus subgenera. These invasions likely occurred via the Bering land bridge
during the Pleistocene during times of low sea level.[2]
The species exhibits different social behaviors depending on climate it is a solitary species in
cooler regions, but is eusocial in warmer areas, sometimes with solitary and eusocial colonies
appearing simultaneously in the same population.[3] The sweat bees are known for its variability
in social behavior, which has become a model for social plasticity.[4] This variability has
contributed to an understanding of social evolution in behavior.[4]