Augochlorella striata, Gretel Kiefer
Family: Halictidae
Genus: Augochlorella
Common Name: Green Sweat Bees
Length: 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in)
Link to DiscoverLife: Augochlorella
Identification: Augochlorella individuals are a bright, metallic green, to a pale, coppery green. The males can sometimes appear pink. Females carry pollen in the scopae on their hind legs.
Foraging Habits: Generalists
Nesting Habits: Augochlorella are solitary or semisocial, except for A. aurata, the most common Augochlorella visitors to Echinacea at our study site.
Specimens in Collection: 123 specimens
Species Observed: Augochlorella aurata
Supplemental Images: Augochlorella aurata
(Mader et al. Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies. 2011. The Xerces Society.)
The Augochlorella slowly and precisely circumnavigates the flower head again and again in her search for pollen, digging her head down to reach pollen lower on the anthers. More videos of bees visiting Echinacea can be found on The Echinacea Project Youtube.
