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Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon virescens

The Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee is a small, shiny bee with beautiful green and black stripes. They love to buzz around flowers, helping them grow by spreading pollen.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee has a brilliant, iridescent metallic green head and thorax. Its abdomen is distinctly striped with black and bright yellow or pale bands, making it easily distinguishable from other sweat bees. They often appear jewel-like in sunlight.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyHalictidaeGenusAgapostemon
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee
striped trait badgesocial trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A female bee carefully packs pollen and nectar into cells for her future babies.

These bees are called 'sweat bees' because they love to drink human sweat for salt!

They sometimes share a single burrow entrance, but each bee has its own nest!

Wow, these bees glow like a tiny, emerald jewel in the sunshine!

Special abilities

Ability

Buzz Pollination

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bees can 'buzz' pollen free because vibrating their flight muscles helps dislodge stubborn pollen from flowers.

Ability

Nectar-Sipping Tongue

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bees have a specialized, long tongue (proboscis) that helps them reach deep into flowers for nectar.

Ability

Underground Engineer

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bees can dig intricate underground nests because their strong legs and mandibles are perfect for tunneling in soil.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
10-24 mm
Size
7-12 mm
Lifespan
30-60 days
Flight Speed
18 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

They sip flower nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their growing larvae, yum!

Primary Foods

  • sunflower nectar
  • goldenrod pollen
  • aster nectar
  • daisy pollen

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Carries pollen, helping these big flowers make seeds.

pollinates

Canada Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

An important pollinator for this common wildflower.

eaten by

Flower Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Sometimes caught by this camouflaged spider on flowers.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

If you see a bee, watch it from a distance and don't try to touch it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee's wingspan?

10-24 mm

How big is Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee?

7-12 mm

How long does Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee live?

30-60 days

How fast can Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee fly?

18 km/h

What does Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee eat?

They sip flower nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their growing larvae, yum!

Where is Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee usually found?

Urban areas

How does Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee have?

6

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