Agapostemon sericeus

(Förster, 1771)

silky striped-sweat bee, silky striped sweat bee

Agapostemon sericeus is a solitary sweat bee in the Halictidae, commonly known as the silky striped-sweat bee. The is a that nests in soil, showing little selectivity for nesting sites as long as floral resources are available. It has been documented in moist lawns, garden edges, and unmowed areas. The species is native to North America.

Silky Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon sericeus) - Guelph, Ontario by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Agapostemon sericeus female by The Packer Lab. Used under a Attribution license.

American insects (1904) (17530729793) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agapostemon sericeus: /ˌæɡəˈpɒstɛmən səˈraɪsiəs/

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Images

Habitat

Nests in moist lawns surrounded by gardens and unmowed areas. Shows flexibility in site selection provided flowers are available nearby.

Distribution

North America; specifically documented in Vermont, United States.

Behavior

Solitary. Not selective about nesting sites.

Ecological Role

Human Relevance

Has been observed in garden and lawn environments, suggesting of human-modified landscapes.

Similar Taxa

Agapostemon virescensBoth are metallic green Agapostemon , but A. virescens females have a black with white hair bands while A. sericeus females are entirely metallic green.
Agapostemon texanusBoth are western North American Agapostemon with metallic green coloration; A. texanus is more commonly documented in California while A. sericeus has been recorded in the eastern United States including Vermont.