Agapostemon virescens

(Fabricius, 1775)

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee, bicolored striped-sweat bee

Agapostemon virescens, commonly known as the bicolored striped sweat bee, is a metallic green halictid native to North America. It is the official bee of Toronto, Canada. Females nest underground, often forming where multiple females share a single burrow entrance, though the is considered solitary rather than truly social. The species exhibits in coloration and is a frequently observed on flowers.

Agapostemon virescens by (c) Christina Butler, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Agapostemon virescens by (c) Dayron Breto, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dayron Breto. Used under a CC-BY license.

Bumblebee 1 by Dna-man at English Wikipedia. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agapostemon virescens: /ˌæɡəˈpɑstɪmən vɪˈrɛsɛnz/

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

Identification

Distinguished from other metallic green halictids by the bicolored pattern: metallic green and with contrasting non-metallic, banded . Females of most other Agapostemon are wholly metallic green. Distinguished from cuckoo wasps (often mistaken for metallic bees) by —A. virescens is commonly found on flowers, flies and alights directly rather than with jerky movements, and females carry pollen on hind legs.

Images

Habitat

Open areas with loamy soils and sparse vegetation suitable for underground nesting. Often found in gardens, meadows, and urban green spaces. Nests in sunny spots with thin lawn cover or bare ground patches.

Distribution

North America. Documented from Canada (including Ontario, where it is the official of Toronto) through the United States. Specific state records include Vermont.

Seasonality

Active during warm months, with nesting forming in spring. observed from spring through summer, with timing varying by latitude.

Diet

. Collects nectar and pollen from diverse flowering plants. Observed frequently on Asteraceae members including Echinacea (coneflowers). may also imbibe salt-rich perspiration from humans.

Life Cycle

Solitary nesting in underground burrows. Females excavate burrows in soil, with individual nests containing more than 100 . Multiple females may share a single nest entrance, forming , though nests function independently. Development includes , larval, and pupal stages within brood cells provisioned with pollen and nectar.

Behavior

Females forage for pollen and nectar, storing pollen in scopae on hind legs. Nesting females may act as guards at shared nest entrances. Males perch on leaves and stems to watch for passing females. Forms nesting where multiple females share burrow entrances. Not truly social—no or cooperative care.

Ecological Role

contributing to pollination of native plants and agricultural crops. Part of native in agricultural and urban .

Human Relevance

Official of Toronto, Canada. Valued as a native in gardens and urban green spaces. Attracted to Echinacea and other garden flowers. Occasionally alights on human skin to collect perspiration, giving 'sweat bee' —generally harmless.

Similar Taxa

Other Agapostemon speciesMost other in have wholly metallic green females; A. virescens uniquely has black with white hair bands in females
Augochlorini tribe bees (Augochlora, Augochlorella, Augochloropsis)Virtually identical bright metallic green coloration; require microscopic examination to distinguish; all are bright metallic green without contrasting abdominal banding
Cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae)Similar metallic green appearance but lack pollen-carrying structures, exhibit jerky rapid movements, and are seldom found on flowers

More Details

Social organization note

While A. virescens forms nest with shared entrances, this is communal nesting rather than true sociality. Each female provisions her own independently; there are no or cooperative brood care.

Nesting site preference

Favors loamy soils with sparse vegetation; large can form where conditions are favorable. Gardeners can encourage by allowing sunny lawn areas to go thin or bare.