Sweat-bees
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.
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.
Conanthalictus
Conanthalictus is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, established by Cockerell in 1901. The genus comprises approximately 13 described species distributed in North America, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized bees associated with the tribe Rophitini.
Halictidae
sweat bees, halictid bees
Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees with nearly 4,500 described species worldwide. Commonly called sweat bees, many species are attracted to human perspiration to obtain dissolved salts and electrolytes. The family exhibits remarkable diversity in social organization, ranging from solitary to primitively eusocial species, and includes the taxon for which the term "eusocial" was originally coined. Halictids are important pollinators of wildflowers and some agricultural crops.
Halictinae
Sweat bees, Furrow bees
The Halictinae represent the largest and most diverse subfamily of Halictidae, comprising over 2,400 species across five tribes: Augochlorini, Thrinchostomini, Caenohalictini, Sphecodini, and Halictini. These small bees are characterized by extraordinary social diversity, ranging from solitary nesting to obligate eusociality, with eusociality having evolved approximately 20-22 million years ago. The subfamily serves as a key model system for studying social evolution due to its recent origins of eusociality and extensive behavioral polymorphisms within and between species.
Mexalictus
Mexican sweat bees
Mexalictus is a genus of sweat bees established by Eickwort in 1978. The genus comprises more than 20 described species distributed in the Halictidae family. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized bees characterized by metallic coloration typical of many halictids. The genus is native to Mexico and adjacent regions.
Micralictoides
Micralictoides is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, comprising eight described species. The genus was established by Timberlake in 1939 and is classified within the subfamily Rophitinae. Species in this genus are native to western North America, particularly arid regions of California and the Mojave Desert. They are small to medium-sized bees associated with specific host plants.
Sphecodosoma
Sphecodosoma is a genus of sweat bees in the family Halictidae, first described by Crawford in 1907. The genus contains at least three described species: S. beameri, S. dicksoni, and S. pratti. As members of the subfamily Rophitinae, these bees are part of a diverse group of small to medium-sized bees commonly known as sweat bees due to their attraction to human perspiration. The genus is placed in the tribe Rophitini, which includes bees with varied nesting habits and floral associations.
Xeralictus
Xeralictus sweat bees
Xeralictus is a genus of small sweat bees in the family Halictidae, subfamily Rophitinae. The genus contains at least three described species, including X. bicuspidariae, X. biscuspidariae, and X. timberlakei. These bees are associated with desert environments in southwestern North America and exhibit specialized pollination relationships involving floral mimicry systems.