Primitively-social
Guides
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.
Halictus ligatus
Ligated Furrow Bee, sweat bee
Halictus ligatus is a primitively eusocial sweat bee native to North and Central America. It nests in ground burrows or rotting wood, forming colonies with reproductive division of labor between queens and workers. The species exhibits remarkable behavioral plasticity: northern populations have annual colony cycles with distinct worker and reproductive broods, while subtropical populations show continuous brooding and reduced social hierarchy. Queens establish dominance through aggression and pheromonal suppression of worker reproduction. The species is polylectic, collecting pollen from diverse flowering plants, and serves as an important native pollinator.