Semisocial bees do divide tasks, but there are multiple egg-layers instead of just one queen. Due to their activity and behavior, ground bees are also called cellophane bees or polyester bees. It’s a fact that 70 percent of more than the 20,000 species of bees burrow in the ground.

Several bees will share a nest and work together, but these groups smaller and last a single generation, not nearly as complicated as the larger, multi-generation colonies of eusocial bees. The BICOLORED STRIPED SWEAT BEE ( Agapostemon virescens) is fairly common in Midwestern and Northeastern North America (it’s even the official bee of Toronto), and it has been recorded from coast to coast. The species of ground-nesting bees include mason bees, sweat bees, leafcutter bees, digger bees, and mining bees. Please direct all inquiries and comments to insectidentification AT . Other sweat bees are not eusocial, but semisocial. When emailing please include your location and the general estimated size of the specimen in question if possible. Images in JPG format are preferred with a minimum horizontal dimension of 1000px if possible. Below are a few photos of Augochlorine sweat bees. Another possibility in our area is the metallic-epauletted sweat bee (Augochloropsis metallica). Most have dark, metallic bodies and yellow markings, especially on their. There is a wide variation in the identifying features of species of sweat bees. These sweat bees are common throughout the eastern United States. The photo above was submitted to iNaturalist and confirmed to be a pure green sweat bee (Augochlora pura). Sweat bees are essential pollinators however, they are usually solitary and don’t produce honey. By submitting images to us () you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Site Disclaimer as it pertains to 'User-Submitted Content'. USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab / Public Domain This is a large group of small bees, with some only a quarter of the size of a honeybee. Pure green sweat bee on red salvia seeds. Material presented throughout this website is for entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for scientific research or medical advice (regarding bites, etc.).Please consult licensed, degreed professionals for such information. The logo, its written content, and watermarked photographs/imagery are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and is protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Beetle Identification Butterfly Identification Caterpillar Identification Spider ID Fungal Infections on Insects Nursery Web Spider Official State Insects Termite Basics Insect Molting Process Bugs of Tennessee House