Augochlorella aurata, a member of the Halictidae family, photographed by Gretel Kiefer.
Also known as “Sweat Bees”, bees in the Halictidae family are often the most frequently encountered bees of the summer, though generally overlooked due to their small, ant-like appearance. In color, they range from bright and metallic to dull. Most Halictids nest in the ground or rotting wood. A range of social behaviors can be observed, from solitary to eusocial to communal. The most common Halictid visitors to Echinacea are in the genera Agapostemon, Augochlorella, Halictus, and Lasioglossum. (Mader et al. 220-221)
(Mader et al. Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies. 2011. The Xerces Society. Part 3: Bees of North America.)
