The Metallic Green Bee, also known as Agapostemon virescens, is a striking bee species that can be found in gardens throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. With its vibrant green color, this eye-catching insect is not only a fascinating creature to observe but also a vital pollinator for various plants in your garden.
These green bees have a fascinating life cycle, with preferences for specific flowers and a remarkable appearance. Their beautiful metallic hue and dark, transparent wings make them stand out among other bee species. The Metallic Green Bee contributes to the ecosystem and encourages biodiversity by pollinating different types of flowers.
Basic Characteristics
Size
Metallic green bees are generally small to medium in size, typically ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 inches (5 to 12 mm) in length. Their compact size aids them in accessing a variety of flowers for nectar and pollen foraging.
Color
These insects exhibit bright, striking colors that set them apart from other bees. Their hues include:
- Metallic green: A stunning and common color variation found in many species, like the Augochlora pura.
- Blue: Some metallic green bees may have slight bluish undertones or even appear almost blue in certain lighting conditions.
Appearance
These bees are not only captivating in color but also have distinct physical features.
- Bodies: Metallic green bees have a compact body structure with noticeable hair, giving them a fuzzy appearance.
- Sexual dimorphism: There are some differences between males and females. Males often have longer antennae and slimmer bodies, while females are more robust and have structures for collecting pollen on their hind legs.
Metallic Green Bee vs. Bumblebee
| Feature | Metallic Green Bee | Bumblebee |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 0.2 to 0.5 inches (5-12mm) | Larger, up to 0.9 inches (23mm) |
| Color | Metallic green, blue | Dark brown, black with bright yellow or orange stripes |
| Appearance | Compact, fuzzy body | Round, fuzzy body |
Appealing Traits of Metallic Green Bees:
- Striking coloration
- Efficient pollinators
- Diverse habitat preferences
Species and Distribution
North America
Metallic green bees are found throughout North America, particularly in the United States. One common example is the Agapostemon virescens, a striking green bee which mainly inhabits the Midwestern and Northeastern regions of the country, but can be spotted coast to coast.
Another North American species is the Agapostemon melliventris, found across the United States and parts of Canada.
South America
In South America, one notable metallic green bee species is the Augochlora, which belongs to the family Halictidae.
Central America
Similarly, Central America is home to various metallic green bee species. The green carpenter bee, found in tropical regions, is one example.
Here’s a brief overview of these bee species:
| Region | Species Example | Bee Family |
|---|---|---|
| North America | Agapostemon virescens | Halictidae |
| North America | Agapostemon melliventris | Halictidae |
| South America | Augochlora | Halictidae |
| Central America | Green Carpenter Bee | Halictidae |
Some key features of metallic green bees are:
- Bright metallic-green coloration
- Varying sizes, often similar to or slightly smaller than a honeybee
- Found in diverse habitats, including gardens and tropical regions
Distinctive characteristics include:
- Ground-nesting or twig-nesting behaviors
- Attraction to various flower types for pollination
- Interaction with other insects and plants in their ecosystems
Habitats and Interactions with Plants
Preferred Habitat
The metallic green bee, also known as Agapostemon virescens, is found predominantly in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. However, there have been sightings from coast to coast. They reside mainly in gardens, meadows, and open woodlands.
Flowering Plants
These bees have a liking for native flowering plants, including:
- Aster flowers
- Goldenrod
- Bee balm
Their attraction to flowers, rich in nectar and pollen, makes them essential pollinators.
Pollination Roles
The metallic green bee plays an important role in the pollination of various flowering plants. They help in:
- Plant reproduction
- Genetic diversity improvement
- Increased fruit and seed production
A quick comparison of metallic green bees to honeybees:
| Comparison Aspect | Metallic Green Bee | Honeybee |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Gardens, meadows, open woodlands | Beehives, apiaries |
| Pollination Role | Strong pollinators of native plants | Generalist pollinator |
| Social Behavior | Solitary pollinator, single nests | Lives in colonies |
| Behavioral Difference | More likely to visit a variety of plants | Less plant variety |
Being solitary pollinators and visiting numerous plant species, metallic green bees contribute uniquely to plant and flower diversity.
Social Structure and Nesting
Solitary vs. Social Behavior
Metallic green bees are solitary bees, meaning they do not form colonies like honey bees or bumble bees. Each female metallic green bee is responsible for her own nest and offspring. This differs from social bees, which have a division of labor among worker bees, drones, and the queen.
Nest Construction
Solitary metallic green bees construct their nests underground in soil, creating tunnels that contain multiple cells. Each cell houses a single developing larva. Nest building is an essential part of the metallic green bee’s life cycle and involves excavating soil and burrowing into the ground.
Mating and Reproductive Habits
- Female bees mate once and store sperm for their entire life.
- Male bees primarily look for females to mate with.
- Males are territorial and protect their chosen flowers.
Female metallic green bees lay eggs in the cells of their nests. Before sealing up each cell, the female provides a mixture of pollen and nectar, which serves as food for the developing larva. Once the larva has consumed this food, it will pupate and eventually emerge as an adult bee with fully developed wings.
Comparing Solitary and Social Bees:
| Feature | Solitary Bee | Social Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Nesting | Individual nests | Shared colonies |
| Mating | Mate once; females lay their own eggs | Division of labor among caste members |
| Behavior | Non-aggressive | Territorial |
Threats and Conservation
Predators
Metallic Green Bees (Agapostemon virescens) have various predators, including:
- Birds
- Spiders
- Praying mantises
These predators can significantly impact bee populations.
Pesticides and Human Impacts
Exposure to pesticides, particularly those used in agriculture, poses a significant threat to Metallic Green Bees. For example, neonicotinoids can negatively affect the bees’ ability to forage and reproduce.
Human activities, such as habitat destruction and urbanization, also contribute to the decline of bee populations.
| Impact | Example |
|---|---|
| Pesticide | Neonicotinoids |
| Human Activity | Habitat Destruction |
Benefits to Ecosystems
Metallic Green Bees are crucial to ecosystems. They are:
- Effective pollinators
- Contributing to the growth of vegetables and fruits
- Support biodiversity in meadows and other environments
Entomologists and other scientists recognize the need for conserving these beneficial insects.
Comparison to Other Bees and Wasps
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are large, shiny, black, and yellow bees. They’re known for drilling holes into wood surfaces. Some key differences between carpenter bees and metallic green bees include:
- Size: Carpenter bees are larger than metallic green bees.
- Color: Carpenter bees are black and yellow, while metallic green bees have bright, metallic-green coloration.
For instance, sawdust piles below perfectly circular holes indicate the presence of carpenter bees, whereas metallic green bees don’t cause such damage.
Orchid Bees
Orchid bees, belonging to the genus Euglossa, are also bright metallic green. They share similar features with metallic green bees, such as:
- Size: Both bees are roughly the same size, about 1.3 cm in length.
- Color: Both have bright, metallic-green coloration.
However, orchid bees are rare and found mainly in Central and South America, while metallic green bees are found in the United States.
Mason Bees
Mason bees belong to the Osmia genus and are small, solitary bees often with metallic coloration. Differences with metallic green bees include:
- Color: Mason bees can have a metallic-blue color, different from the green of metallic green bees.
- Nesting: Mason bees build nests using mud or clay, unlike metallic green bees.
An example can be found in the blue orchard mason bee which is beneficial for pollination.
Differences in Aggression
Comparing aggression levels between bees and wasps:
| Species | Aggression Level |
|---|---|
| Metallic Green Bee | Low |
| Carpenter Bee | Low |
| Orchid Bee | Low |
| Mason Bee | Low |
| Wasps | Moderate to High |
| Hornets | High |
Metallic green bees and other bee species mentioned are generally non-aggressive and focused on pollinating flowers. Wasps and hornets can be more aggressive, especially when their nests are disturbed. They have a smooth body, as opposed to bees’ hairy bodies, and the potential to sting multiple times.
Unique Features and Trivia
Salt Collection
Metallic green bees, like many other bee species, are known to collect salt from various sources, such as sweat or soil. They use their proboscis to drink salt-laden liquid, which provides essential nutrients for their body functions. Here are some examples:
- Drinking sweat from human skin
- Gathering salt from the soil surface
Atypical Bee Characteristics
Green sweat bees, such as the honey-tailed striped sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens) and Augochloropsis metallica, exhibit some peculiar traits that set them apart from other bees:
- Generalists: These bees are not picky and can pollinate a wide variety of flowers.
- Winter behavior: Unlike most bees that hibernate or die off during winter, some green sweat bees like Augochloropsis metallica can be found in Florida where they remain active throughout the winter months.
- Parasitic bees: Some metallic green bee species are known as “cuckoo bees” due to their kleptoparasitic behavior, where they lay their eggs in the nests of other bee species.
Below is a comparison table of generalist and specialist bees:
| Trait | Generalist Bees (e.g. Green Sweat Bees) | Specialist Bees |
|---|---|---|
| Flower preference | Wide variety of flowers | Specific types of flowers |
| Pollination efficiency | May be less efficient | Highly efficient for their preferred flowers |
Expert Opinions
According to experts, metallic green bees exhibit striking physical features. The head, thorax, and abdomen of these bees are typically covered in vibrant, iridescent green or blue hues. The appearance of metallic green bees can vary slightly based on their species and location.
In conclusion:
- Green sweat bees collect salt for their nutritional needs.
- They differ from other bees in their generalist behavior, winter activity, and in some cases, parasitic lifestyles.
- Metallic green bees have a unique, beautiful appearance with iridescent green or blue coloration.
38 Comments. Leave new
I live in northern Alabama and I’ve heard of/ seen black sweat bees before, but never any metallic ones. However, today I found a metallic green bug with a blue lower abdomen and black wings. When I tried to pick it up it curled into a ball. I’m sorry to say that bugs (in my house) tend to make me nervous and I quickly got rid of it, so I don’t have a picture. However, upon research it looked like a cuckoo wasp, but I don’t know if they live around here and I had never heard of one until today. Do sweat bees curl up? And do Cuckoo wasps live in Alabama?
BugGuide does indicate Cuckoo Wasps are found in Alabama.
I have virescent green metallic bee colony in the front yard of my parents house and they are in a high traffic part of the yard. I do a lot of gardening & I’m concerned about colony collapse disorder. I do not want to kill these bees is there a way move them some were?
It is doubtful you could move the colony.
I live in South Carolina and was sitting outside in my lawn chair today when I happened to look down and next to my lawn chair was small mound of dirt tubular/volcanic in shape and these neat looking “bees” were flying in and out of it. (At first I thought they were flies, then I looked closer and thought they were a type of yellow jacket because although their heads were a bright emerald green color, the bottom part of their body was yellow and black striped.) So I did some research, and found this page amongst others and found out they were these Emerald Bees. So apparently now they are in SC too. It is the first time I have ever seen them. We live on 17 acres, and this burrow is in the middle of a “field” in the shade of a big tree. We do have a very large pond/small lake that is fairly close to where the burrow is. So maybe that is why they are here?? Anyway, just thought I would let you know of another state that they have been found in. They look exactly like the picture you have posted.
According to BugGuide, they are found throughout North America.
See: http://bugguide.net/node/view/128/data
I also saw one of these in Oregon last weekend. I was in the Tom McCall Nature Preserve near Rowena. I saw two different ones. I tried to take a picture but it didn’t work very well since the bees were moving around so quickly. Extremely lovely, metallic green!
Thank you so much for the info. I have recently found these bees in my yard. We bought this house 3 years ago and have never seen them before. We recently planted 4 o’clocks that are pink and these bees seem to like them. But bees are all metallic green, and never seeing them before we wanted to make sure that they weren’t poisenes. But after reading this we feel better. I also stepped on a bee the other day and since it didn’t leave a stinger and it didn’t swell much (but still hurt!), it must have been this. Thanks again
I found this bug in my yard and i want to know if they sting or not
While they are not aggressive, female bees are capable of stinging.
This looks exactly like this bug that stubg my sister except the picture doesn’t show a stinger..
My son and I would like to disagree with the word mild being used to describe this sting. He was helping his father pick up kindling and disturbed a hive. They flew up his pants and he has quite a few stings on his legs and keeps dancing/writhing in pain. I got one sting on my thumb while stripping his clothes off and it hurts terribly and keeps shooting from the tip of my thumb down into my arm and over into my other fingers. Maybe these guys have particularly potent venom compared to the norm. All I know is describing this as mild is misleading.
Pain tolerance is different from person to person, and when attributing a numerical rank for pain in the emergency room, one person’s 2 may be another person’s 9. Metallic Green Sweat Bees do sting. According to Answers.com: “Though sweat bees are seen as a nuisance because of their attraction to human perspiration, their sting is not as painful as other species, and they are often seen as beneficial for their pollination of crops and flowers.” According to BugGuide: “A few species are attracted to sweat, and will sometimes sting if disturbed, though the sting is not very painful.” According to Bee Informed: “You may be wondering where they get the name ‘sweat bee.’ While they do feed on pollen and nectar, the bee is also attracted to human perspiration. Yum. A light brush will dislodge them and they will most likely not bother you again, however if you do happen to get stung it is not a painful as that of a honey bee. Male sweat bees, common with Apis species, also do not sting. So although the bees can be annoying in the heat of the summer, they are really nothing to worry about, rather they are just another important pollinator that helps to keep our ecosystem running smoothly.”
My daughter also got stung, she said it burned for quite a while.
My friend Charles Hough said they are “Agapostemon virescens” green yellow black wasp. I checked on Google and found there are are over 20 varieties, and they are a type of sweat bee… some called Metallic Bees. They range from Canada to Florida.
I just seen one today and they are very beautiful. St. Petersburg Florida 12/19/14
Since you are writing from Florida, we would not rule out the possibility that you saw a Green Orchid Bee, a neotropical species that has become established in Florida since the early years of the twenty-first century.
I live on the Florida East coast in St Lucie County. We have lots of these bees , they do seem to like the purple flowers.
Does anyone know where and when they originated?
I live on the Florida East coast in St Lucie County. We have lots of these bees , they do seem to like the purple flowers.
Does anyone know where and when they originated?
Metallic Sweat Bees are native, but in Florida, you might be encountering the subtropical Orchid Bee which was introduced or naturally expanded its range in around 2002.
I got stung by one 3 times and all 3 areas are red swollen and itchy days after? The only reason I think it was this bed is because I found it in my shirt after feeling the stings. Is this a normal reaction to this sting?
I live in bucks county Pa I have just saw these bees in my flower pot prompting me to look them up I took a double take to make sure that they where bees they look just like the pictures .
do they sting ? I saw quit a bit of them
I live in bucks county Pa I have just saw these bees in my flower pot prompting me to look them up I took a double take to make sure that they where bees they look just like the pictures .
do they sting ? I saw quit a bit of them
I live in New Hampshire and have a ton of these in my front yard flower bed,I got stung by one today and it felt just like a regular bee sting,they don’t bother you,I guess I must of just disturbed one,Beautiful to look at tho.
this bee is getting in my kitchen window but dying off on the window seal. I would like to know do the sting and how to I keep them from coming in.
I have these bees coming in the house early in the morning & late at night . They are attracted to our kitchen light. We can’t seem to find how they are getting in. We are swatting at them & at times there are 5-6 of them every day & night. Where are they coming from? how do I stop them? or get rid of them?
We do not provide extermination advice.
I got stung on the knee at a friend’s house .. I didn’t even know this bee was ok never my pants till it stung me and I actually thought it was a weird looking ant.. I got stung yesterday and it’s still itching badly today and atitle swollen and red.. and on top.of that I’m sick too
I just found a mound in my lawn that these bees are living in. They are quite lovely, but around here, bees in the ground usually mean yellow jackets – and that is bad news. Are they agresssive bees, or should be just give them space and let them be?
They are not aggressive, though we would not recommend attempting to destroy their nest.
This was very informative. I just found and area in my yard where I discovered these bees starting their holes by my garden. Beautiful to look at and hoping they don’t care about what I’m doing. Not sure if they sting but I’ll research it now that I know what they are! Thank you.
Metallic green sweat bee. That’s a cool name!
I just discover I have these bees they are all over my raspberry bushes. I had to wait for one to land so I could see what it was they are very fast and didn’t mind me watering . I live in Portland Oregon
Found a green headed bee in my living room in Wenatchee Washington. May have come from a bouquet I bought today from local farmers market. Never seen one before. Set it free outside.
I live near Chattanooga, TN and have had ground nests of these in 2 different houses. I am still not sure if I should be worried about them or not. I got rid of one nest thinking they were yellow jackets. After doing more research, I am not sure whether to just leave them be or get rid of this 2nd nest?
Just got stung by one of these yesterday. While the sting is not nearly as intense as any other bee stings I have endured, it is not very pleasant and am reluctant to call it mild though in reality it probably is. I suppose the uncertainty that this is what bit me plays into it. I was walking a horse to turnout and felt this sharp pain, looked to see what it was an saw this shiny bug. My instincts took over and I swatted it dead before I had too much time to either see it or observe it but pretty sure this is what it was.
Brian Law, I have them all over my cosmos and rosemary in Portland, Oregon right now (Sept 2021). They seem very docile – I can and have walked right into the middle of the flower bed and everybody (the Oregon bumblebees, the honeybees, and the green bees) just go about their business. I’d say if you don’t have them in some high traffic area with bare-footed kids running around, just leave them bee (see what I did there?). They seem to be peaceful little bees that are very industrious and great pollinators.
Can these sting?