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Augochloropsis

Family Halictidae > Genus Augochloropsis

Augochloropsis 
Metallic Green Sweat Bees

In Minnesota, there are three described species within the genus Augochloropsis. Bees in this genus nest in the ground and may have solitary, communal, or semisocial nests. Augochloropsis is one of four metallic green sweat bee genera that occur in Minnesota. The other three genera include Agapostemon, Augochlora, and Augochlorella. The genus Augochloropsis has one distinct feature that separates it from the other three genera — large, asymmetric or angular tegulae that are usually extensively green. On the first and second abdominal segments (T1 and T2), there is a row of stiff hairs, sparse on some species and dense on others.

Ranging in length from
6 to 12 mm (0.28 to 0.5 inches), Augochloropsis species are typically larger than bee species in the genera Augochlora and Augochlorella. Like the other green sweat bee genera, this genus has a metallic green head, thorax, and abdomen.

Augochloropsis metallica

An Augochloropsis metallica female visiting Helenium autumnale.

Augochloropsis female

wing
position
on flowers

Augochloropsis wing position on flowers

N0. species in MN

3

size range

Augochloropsis size range

Phenology

Augochloropsis phenology

Genus Characteristics

Augochloropsis tegula

Tegulae green, asymmetrical or angular near wings (not oval), and large.

Augochloropsis female

Females with pollen-collecting hairs on hind leg femora and tibiae. 

Augochloropsis wing

3

1

2

curved forewing

basal vein

Forewing with three submarginal cells and strongly curved basal vein.

Augochloropsis male

Males and females with green trochanter, femur, and tibia.

Distribution

AugochloropsisHumeralis.png

Augochloropsis humeralis

AugochloropsisMetallica.png

Augochloropsis metallica

AugochloropsisViridula.png

Augochloropsis viridula

Augochloropsis Species in Minnesota

Scientific Name
Formerly
Nest
Sociality
Augochloropsis humeralis
split from Augochloropsis sumptuosa
ground
communal, semisocial
Augochloropsis metallica
Augochloropsis metallica metallica
ground
solitary, communal
Augochloropsis viridula
Augochloropsis metallica fulgida
ground
communal, semisocial?

Source: 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.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Bee Species List (August 2023). https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/mn-statewide-bee-list.pdf

Augochlorella female

It's Not Easy
Being Green

Four genera of metallic green sweat bees occur in Minnesota. They can be difficult to tell apart, but with practice and clear photographs, these tips will help:

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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.

 

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