SCIENTIFIC NAME
DESCRIPTION
As with other bees in this family, these bees are slender and, as their name implies, are bright metallic green, sometimes blueish. They have pale hairs although they are not very noticeable unless you see them close up.
RANGE
HABITAT
DIET
BEHAVIOUR
undefinedPRIMARY ECOSYSTEM ROLES
Augochloropsis – They are the biggest of the three genera (about 11 mm) and females can be easily mistaken with Agapostemon. They are less common than the other green bees.
Augochlorella – Small (about six to eight mm), brilliant green with copper or gold reflections, they are very similar to Augochlora but more abundant. They can be found in agricultural fields, forests and urban habitat.
Augochlora – Small (about eight mm), they have also a bright metallic coloration sometimes with blueish and copper reflections. To differentiate them from Augochlorella, a microscope is needed looking at the shape of margins on their head near their mandibles.
Feeding Habits
All three genus members are active from spring to the end of summer with minor variations as to who emerges first. They are all generalists that feed on a broad range of flowers.
Augochloropsis – These bees are similar to bumble bees in being able to create a vibration that causes the anthers of certain plants, such as tomato, potato and pepper, to release their pollen, called buzz pollination. They also feed on wild roses, milkweeds, Ratibidas, Obedient Plant, asters and goldenrods.
Augochlorella – You may find these bees on violets, False Solomon’s Seal, prairie clovers, milkweeds, alumroots, New Jersey Tea, Rudbeckias and asters.
Augochlora – You can support these bees with penstemons, milkweeds, False Sunflower, Rudbeckias, Purple Praire Clover, Yarrow, asters and goldenrods.
Nesting Habits
They all exhibit different types of behaviors:
Augochloropsis – They nest underground and are communal (sharing the nest entrance between different egg-laying females).
Augochlorella – They are social ground-nesters, and they can create aggregations of nests.
Augochlora – Some species nest in the ground and others prefer to nest in rotting wood. The latter are solitary when the ground-nesters show some form of sociality.
Neat Fact
Some ground-nesting species from this group build a turret marking their nest entrance, while they are active. They will usually rebuild that turret after a rainfall.
