Agapostemon femoratus

Crawford, 1901

Wide-legged Sweat Bee

Agapostemon femoratus is a of metallic green sweat in the , first described by Crawford in 1901. Like other members of its , it exhibits in coloration. The species occurs in Middle and North America. As a halictid bee, it likely participates in ground-nesting and , though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented compared to better-studied such as A. virescens and A. texanus.

Agapostemon femoratus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agapostemon femoratus: /ˌæ.ɡəˈpɒs.təˌmɒn fɛˈmɔːr.ə.təs/

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Identification

Females distinguished from () by presence of pollen- on hind legs and flower-visiting . Distinguished from other metallic green (Augochlora, Augochlorella, Augochloropsis) by -level characters requiring microscopic examination: Agapostemon has subtriangular pygidial plate and distinct . Males distinguished from females by banded non-metallic . Specific identification of A. femoratus from requires examination of male and other subtle morphological characters.

Images

Appearance

Sexually . Females entirely metallic green, including , with hairy . Males with metallic green and thorax only; abdomen banded with black and pigments. Hind legs of females possess (brushes of hairs) for pollen collection. The specific epithet 'femoratus' (wide-legged) suggests enlarged , though this trait requires verification.

Distribution

Middle America and North America. Present in both regions according to GBIF records. Specific country-level distribution details not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

Agapostemon virescensFemales have black with hair rather than entirely metallic green; exhibits communal nesting
Agapostemon texanusWestern with similar ; males with identical color pattern but differs in and geographic range
Augochlora puraMetallic green frequently brassy, coppery, or bronze; requires microscopic examination to distinguish
Chrysididae (cuckoo wasps)Superficially similar metallic coloration; distinguished by (seldom on flowers), quick jerky movements, and lack of pollen- structures

More Details

Taxonomic note

The specific epithet 'femoratus' refers to the (thighs), suggesting this possesses enlarged or modified hind legs. This trait may relate to male mating or female nesting activities, but functional significance has not been studied.

Data deficiency

Most published information on Agapostemon biology derives from studies of A. virescens and A. texanus. Caution is warranted in extrapolating traits to A. femoratus without direct observation.