Agapostemon texanus

Cresson, 1872

metallic green sweat bee, Texas striped sweat bee

Agapostemon texanus is a ground-nesting sweat bee with the widest geographic range of any in its , spanning from southern Canada to Rica. Both sexes exhibit metallic blue-green coloration on the and , while males display distinctive black and yellow abdominal banding. The species is exclusively solitary, differing from other Agapostemon that may form communal nests. It is a forager active from March through October, transporting pollen on its hind legs.

Agapostemon texanus by (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Don Loarie. Used under a CC-BY license.

Agapostemon texanus by (c) eebee, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by eebee. Used under a CC-BY license.

Agapostemon texanus iowensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agapostemon texanus: /ˌæɡəˈpɒstɪmɒn tɛkˈseɪnəs/

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

Identification

Males distinguished from females by black and yellow abdominal banding; females have uniformly colored . Distinguished from other metallic green bees by combination of size, pattern, and geographic range. Within Agapostemon, identified by male abdominal pattern and confirmed by range (most widespread in genus).

Images

Habitat

Ground-nesting in loamy soil, utilizing vertical banks and horizontal surfaces. Nests constructed under pebbles, leaves, or in pre-existing ground cracks. Found from sea level to 8,000 feet elevation. Absent or scarce in arid regions of southwestern United States where range is interrupted.

Distribution

North America from southern Canada to Rica; most common west of Mississippi River and along Pacific coast. Range interrupted in arid southwestern areas. Documented in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and United States.

Seasonality

activity from March to October, with peak abundance May through September.

Diet

pollen and nectar forager; no observed preference for specific flower . Forages diurnally at available flowers.

Life Cycle

Solitary ground-nesting . Nest architecture: nearly vertical main tunnel 20–150 cm deep, 4 cm diameter, with 6–14 lateral branches 5–20 cm long. Each lateral ends in single approximately 7 × 11 mm. Cell walls lined with salivary secretion; cells sealed with anal secretion after deposition. Only one side tunnel open at a time; completed tunnels packed with dirt. Entrance sealed with dirt at night. Excavation debris forms mound 3–5 cm diameter, 1–3 cm high, typically dispersed by weather.

Behavior

Females fly close to ground to locate nest sites, attracted to dark, hidden locations. Makes short, direct between neighboring flowers during foraging, reducing probability of revisiting depleted flowers. Strictly solitary nesting; does not form communal nests.

Other Agapostemon speciesA. texanus distinguished by being exclusively solitary; may form communal nests. Male abdominal pattern and geographic range also diagnostic.
Other HalictidaeMetallic coloration shared with some other sweat bees; A. texanus identified by specific combination of size, male banding pattern, and nest architecture.

More Details

Nest architecture uniqueness

Lateral tunnels ending in much smaller than tunnel length is a feature unique to Agapostemon.

Conservation recognition

Recommended by UC Berkeley entomologist Gordon Frankie as candidate for California state due to widespread distribution and public recognition.