Augochlorini
Guides
Augochlora
green sweat bees
Augochlora is a genus of small, metallic sweat bees in the family Halictidae, comprising approximately 127 valid species distributed from southern Canada to Argentina. The genus exhibits remarkable social flexibility, with most species showing facultative eusociality while at least one species, Augochlora pura, is exclusively solitary. Members nest primarily in decaying wood, though some species utilize soil. The genus is divided into three subgenera: Augochlora s. str., Oxystoglossella (formerly Oxystoglossa), and the extinct Electraugochlora known from Miocene Dominican amber.
Augochlora aurifera
Auriferous Green Sweat Bee
Augochlora aurifera is a metallic green sweat bee in the family Halictidae, described by Cockerell in 1897. As a member of the tribe Augochlorini, it exhibits the characteristic bright metallic coloration common to this group. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. Like other Augochlora species, it is presumed to be solitary or primitively social, though specific behavioral details for A. aurifera remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as Augochlora pura.
Augochlora azteca
Aztec Sweat Bee, Aztec augochlora
Augochlora azteca, commonly known as the Aztec Sweat Bee, is a solitary bee species in the family Halictidae. It belongs to the tribe Augochlorini, a group of metallic green sweat bees that are frequently encountered on flowers. The species is distributed across Middle America and North America, where it contributes to pollination services in both natural and managed landscapes. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits solitary nesting behavior.
Augochlorella
sweat bees
Augochlorella is a genus of small, metallic sweat bees in the family Halictidae. Members are distinguished from related genera by microscopic wing venation and head structure. The genus exhibits flexible sociality, with some populations forming eusocial colonies while others remain solitary depending on environmental conditions. Augochlorella aurata is among the most common bees in eastern North America and serves as an important pollinator of wildflowers and agricultural crops.
Augochlorella neglectula
sweat bee
Augochlorella neglectula is a metallic green sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It is one of sixteen recognized species in the genus Augochlorella, which is distributed across the New World. The species exhibits the bright metallic coloration typical of the tribe Augochlorini, making it visually similar to congeners and other augochlorine bees. Subspecific variation includes the coastal form A. neglectula maritima, though this has been synonymized with the nominate subspecies in some treatments.
Augochlorella nigrocyanea
Augochlorella nigrocyanea is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, tribe Augochlorini. The genus Augochlorella contains several species of small, metallic bees that are difficult to distinguish from related genera Augochlora and Augochloropsis without microscopic examination. Members of this genus are known for their bright metallic green, blue-green, or occasionally brassy coloration. Some Augochlorella species exhibit communal nesting or primitively social behavior, with multiple females sharing nest entrances.
Augochlorella pomoniella
Peridot Sweat Bee
Augochlorella pomoniella is a small, metallic green sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the Peridot Sweat Bee. It belongs to the tribe Augochlorini, a group of bright metallic bees that are frequently mistaken for cuckoo wasps due to their similar appearance. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. Like other Augochlorella species, it is a ground-nesting bee that visits flowers for pollen and nectar.
Augochloropsis anonyma
sweat bee
Augochloropsis anonyma is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. It belongs to the tribe Augochlorini, a group of metallic green bees that are frequently mistaken for cuckoo wasps due to their similar appearance. The species was described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1922. Like other members of its genus, it is a solitary bee that nests in soil or rotting wood.
Augochloropsis sumptuosa
sweat bee
Augochloropsis sumptuosa is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, characterized by bright metallic green coloration. It belongs to the tribe Augochlorini, a group of small, often iridescent bees that are frequently mistaken for cuckoo wasps due to their similar appearance. The species has been documented in mark-recapture studies evaluating bee sampling methodologies, indicating its use as a representative taxon for monitoring wild bee populations. Like other Augochlorini, it is a solitary or primitively social bee that nests in soil or rotting wood.
Augochloropsis viridula
Northeastern Sweat Bee
Augochloropsis viridula, commonly known as the northeastern sweat bee, is a metallic green bee in the family Halictidae. The species was first described by Frederick Smith in 1853, then treated as a subspecies of A. metallica, but was reinstated as a full species in 2022 based on taxonomic research. It is found in the midwestern United States and Canada. Like other halictids, it is a solitary bee that nests in soil.
Pseudaugochlora
Pseudaugochlora is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, tribe Augochlorini. Members are small to medium-sized bees with metallic coloration. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region, with records from Caribbean islands including Providencia. As with other Augochlorini, they are solitary or weakly social ground-nesting bees.