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Metallic sweat bee (female)

Agapostemon sp.

Photo by textless
Published on Project Noah
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36.9537, -107.45

Field Notes

Description:

I saw a few of these green bees last weekend, but this was the first one to stay still long enough to get clear photos. It was feeding on flowers in a dry creek bed in a high desert area.

Reference Links:

Genus Agapostemon - Metallic Green Bees - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Metallic sweat bee (female)

Agapostemon sp.

Reference Link
BugEric
2

Comments (18)
BugEric
Females of many species of Agapostemon do *not* have bands on the abdomen. Furthermore, they are usually hairier than the other genera of metallic bees (in the Augochlorini tribe of Halictidae). Euglossa bees do not occur in the U.S. except for an introduced species now established in Florida.
textless
They're generally fast, and don't stay on any particular flower for long. This one was pretty calm. It might have helped that it was a cool morning and there weren't many flowers for it to choose from.
misako
I was in Sedona on Saturday and saw several of these bees, but could not get a photo! :(
textless
Thanks for the kind words... the little bee was a lot of fun to watch. :)
DavidFarrar
Nice shot, looks like the sweat bee that was pollinating my chola flowers this summer.
DoinaRussu
wow! wonderful colors and great details, my compliments!
Juan DiTrani
Well, Agapostemon typically have white bands on the abdomen (but not always), but Halictid plain green bees are extremely hard to identify even between genus. It´s something people hate about insects, is usually necesary to use an Stereoscope for making an identification.
textless
Thanks Juan... Agapostemon is my best guess on this one, but I'm definitely open to suggestions.
Juan DiTrani
Impressive picture!. Just remember not all the green metalic bees are Agapostemon genus, it´s actually a common caracteristic on many Halictid genus and species, and even on other bee families like Apidae (Euglossini)
textless
Thanks! I like these bees because of their vivid colors, and their faces are oddly cute.
The MnMs
Is very pretty! before Noah I did not know that bees so different with such colors existed.
textless
Thanks dandoucette - I was pretty excited about the bee. :)

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2011 Best Wildlife Photo

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PublishedOctober 2, 2011

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