Augochlorella

Augochlorella striata, Gretel Kiefer

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. 

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