Augochlora pura

(Say, 1837)

Pure Green Sweat Bee, Pure Gold-Green Sweat Bee

Species Guides

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A solitary sweat bee in the Halictidae, native to eastern North America. are typically 8 mm long with bright metallic green coloration, though Florida exhibit deep blue metallic coloration. The nests exclusively in rotting wood, utilizing pre-existing insect burrows to construct lined with a waxy secretion from the . Unlike many halictids, A. pura has secondarily lost social ; females are solitary nesters with no , though multiple females may aggregate during or when nesting near deceased mothers.

Augochlora pura mosieri by (c) Eridan Xharahi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eridan Xharahi. Used under a CC-BY license.Augochlora pura by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz. Used under a CC-BY license.Augochlora pura 74743908 by megachile. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Augochlora pura: /ɔːɡəˈklɔːrə ˈpjʊərə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from dull metallic green Lasioglossum (e.g., L. zephyrus) by bright, shiny coloration. Separated from cuckoo wasps ( Chrysididae) by presence on flowers, pollen collection on hind legs, and less jerky pattern. Distinguished from other Augochlorini (Augochlorella, Augochloropsis) by microscopic examination of morphological characters. Distinguished from Agapostemon by uniform metallic coloration (Agapostemon males have banded black and yellow ; most Agapostemon females have hairy, banded abdomens).

Images

Appearance

Small approximately 8 mm in length. Most exhibit bright, shiny metallic green coloration covering the entire body. Florida populations display deep blue metallic coloration (previously described as Augochlora pura mosieri). Males tend to have darker and may appear slightly more bluish than females. Both sexes possess pollen-collecting scopae on the hind legs (females only).

Habitat

Forest with rotting logs; also suburban wood piles. Nests constructed within xylem and phloem of fallen, decaying wood. Foraging occurs in nearby brush and pastures. Associated with passalid galleries in rotting wood.

Distribution

Eastern United States, ranging from Maine and Quebec west to Minnesota, south through Texas and Florida. Documented as far north as Quebec. Core range extends throughout deciduous forest regions of eastern North America.

Seasonality

Active from February through November, with longer seasons in southern states. season typically early April through September. Nests active from early May to early August. Females overwinter in ovarian from August through April.

Diet

floral visitor; has been observed foraging on over 40 distinct plant . Provisions with pollen and nectar collected from multiple flower species per cell. Both sexes observed licking human sweat, likely seeking sodium.

Host Associations

  • passalid beetles - commensalutilizes powdered wood produced by beetles for nest construction
  • Fusarium - ?fungus found on dead bees in spring; causal relationship unclear
  • Aduncospiculum halicti - found in and genital tract of both sexes

Life Cycle

Two to three per year in nature (up to six generations possible in laboratory conditions). Overwintered females emerge in April and found new nests. First emerges in June; daughters disperse to found their own nests rather than remaining as . Males emerge from first built, followed by females. Males die in fall; mated females enter ovarian beneath rotting logs until spring. No worker produced.

Behavior

Solitary nesting with no cooperative care. Females construct at night, forage for nectar and pollen in morning, and provision cells during afternoon. Males patrol fixed routes between flowers and sleep in groups of up to six when shelter is limited, all facing same direction. Males mate while visiting flowers, waiting for females to land rather than pursuing in . Copulation lasts approximately 28.5 seconds; males stroke female's with during mating. Aggressive nest defense against conspecifics, including offspring. Females aggregate during . Demonstrates cell recognition through odor of fresh pollen combined with cell shape and texture.

Ecological Role

of diverse flowering plants. Documented as in some southeastern U.S. bottomland hardwood forests (91% of bees collected in one study area). Contributes to decomposition system through utilization of rotting wood .

Human Relevance

Occasionally licks sweat from human skin, seeking salt; generally docile and reluctant to sting even when handled. Valued as native in gardens and natural areas. Used in mark-recapture studies to evaluate sampling methodology.

Similar Taxa

More Details

Nest Architecture

Exhibits remarkable plasticity in nest construction, producing cluster nests (superimposed horizontal layers), platform nests (single plane), or tunnel nests (chainlike rows) depending on available space and resources. walls constructed from wood fragments coated with substrate and waxy secretion, possibly formed through -mediated polyesterification.

Neural Investment

Comparative study with social Augochlorella aurata demonstrates reduced relative mushroom body calyx volume in A. pura, consistent with social brain hypothesis predictions following loss of sociality.

Salt-seeking Behavior

Laboratory studies confirm strong attraction to NaCl solutions; elicited by sodium chloride exposure.

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Sources and further reading