Family Halictidae > Genus Augochlorella
Augochlorella
Metallic Green Sweat Bees
In Minnesota, there are two described species within the genus Augochlorella. Augochlorella aurata is the most common and widespread species; Augochlorella persimilis occurs only in the southern part of the state. Bees in this genus nest in the ground and typically have eusocial nests. Occasionally, they have semisocial or solitary nests. Augochlorella is one of four metallic green sweat bee genera that occur in Minnesota. The other three include Agapostemon, Augochlora, and Augochloropsis. Of these four genera, Augochlorella is the only genus that has eusocial nests. The other genera have either solitary or communal nests.
Augochlorella closely resembles Augochlora pura. They are similarly-sized and have the same metallic green coloration. Augochlorella has a smaller head than Augochlora, mandibles with one main tooth and a small subapical tooth, a square paraocular lobe, and a rounded inner margin on the compound eye (the eye is narrower at the top than bottom). The abdomen is curved and teardrop-shaped, and the wings are light brown. Bees in this genus are small- to medium-sized and range in length from 3 to 10 mm (0.1 to 0.4 inches).
An Augochlorella female visiting Erigeron.
wing
position
on flowers
N0. species in MN
2
size range
Phenology
Genus Characteristics
Light brown wings and tegulae, small head, compound eye narrowed at top, gena (cheek) narrow, not wider than compound eye.
Inner margin of compound eye rounded. Vertex (space between simple eyes and back of head) narrow.
Females collect pollen on hind leg scopae located on the femur and tibia. Teardrop-shaped abdomen that curves downward (concave).
Male with long thick antennae, narrow form, light brown tegulae and base of wings, coxae, trochanters, and femora green. Tibiae and basitarsi light brown.
Augochlorella Species in Minnesota
Scientific Name | Nest | Sociality |
|---|---|---|
Augochlorella aurata | ground | eusocial, semisocial, solitary |
Augochlorella persimilis | ground | eusocial, semisocial, solitary |
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Bee Species List (August 2023).
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/mn-statewide-bee-list.pdf
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Citations and Further Reading
Droege, S., et al. (2024). The Very Handy Bee Manual: 2.0. How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection.
Gibbs, J., Hanuschuk, E., Miller, R., Dubois, M., Martini, M., Robinson, S., ... & Onuferko, T. M. (2023). A checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Manitoba, Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 155, e3.
Gibbs, J. (2017). Notes on the nests of Augochloropsis metallica fulgida and Megachile mucida in central Michigan (Hymenoptera: Halictidae, Megachilidae). The Great Lakes Entomologist, 50(1), 4.
Mitchell, T. B. (1960). Bees of the eastern United States. Technical Bulletin No. 141. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station.
Portman, Z. M., Gardner, J., Lane, I. G., Gerjets, N., Petersen, J. D., Ascher, J. S., ... & Cariveau, D. P. (2023). A checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Minnesota. Zootaxa, 5304(1), 1-95.
Portman, Z. M., Arduser, M., Lane, I. G., & Cariveau, D. P. (2022).  A review of the Augochloropsis (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) and keys to the shiny green Halictinae of the midwestern United States. ZooKeys, 1130, 103.
Wilson, J. S., & Messinger Carril, O. J. (2016). The bees in your backyard: a guide to North America's bees. Princeton University Press.​
Page Photography Credits
Heather Holm
Joel Gardner CC BY-ND-NC 1.0 (Melittidae)
Ron Goetz CC BY-NC 4.0 (Nomia)