# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 50 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Agapostemon_virescens.jpg&width=800) Photo: Susan Ellis, , Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agapostemon_virescens.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Halictidae - **Genus:** Agapostemon ## 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 - **Buzz Pollination:** Bicolored Striped Sweat Bees can 'buzz' pollen free because vibrating their flight muscles helps dislodge stubborn pollen from flowers. - **Nectar-Sipping Tongue:** Bicolored Striped Sweat Bees have a specialized, long tongue (proboscis) that helps them reach deep into flowers for nectar. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sunflower) (*Helianthus annuus*) — Carries pollen, helping these big flowers make seeds. - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## 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 ### How to identify Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District [View all places to see Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bicolored-striped-sweat-bee) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bicolored-striped-sweat-bee)