# Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee (*Agapostemon splendens*) The Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee is a small, shiny bee with beautiful brown wings. They love to visit flowers and help plants grow by spreading pollen. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, gardens ![Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Agapostemon_splendens.jpg&width=800) Photo: Natalie Allen and Stephanie Kolski , , U.S. Geological Survey, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agapostemon_splendens.jpg) ## Appearance The Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee is a medium-sized bee with a brilliant metallic green head and thorax. Its abdomen is distinctly striped with black and pale yellow bands. Unlike some relatives, its wings are noticeably tinted light brown, giving it a unique appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Halictidae - **Genus:** Agapostemon ## Interesting facts - Some female sweat bees share a nest entrance, but raise their young alone. - Their shimmering green bodies can change color slightly in different light! - They like to dig their nests in the ground, often in sunny, open soil. - This bee helps many plants make seeds, even though it's not a honeybee! ## Special abilities - **Metallic Camouflage:** Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee has dazzling iridescent green armor that helps them blend into leafy surroundings. - **Pollen Basket Power:** Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee can carry loads of pollen because of special hairs on its legs, aiding flower pollination. - **Sweat Seeking Sensors:** Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee has sensors that help them find sweat on skin, which provides them with vital salts. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-20 mm - **Size:** 7-12 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This busy bee sips nectar for energy and collects pollen to feed its young! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat a special mix of pollen and nectar collected by the adult bee. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Black-eyed Susan (*Rudbeckia hirta*) — Visits and pollinates these cheerful yellow wildflowers. - **Eaten by:** [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Misumena vatia*) — Can be ambushed by this camouflaged spider on flowers. - **Parasitizes:** Cuckoo Bee (*Nomada articulata*) — Female lays eggs in the sweat bee's ground nest. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Bees are usually friendly, but it's best to stay calm and not swat at them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown-winged 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 Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee's wingspan? 10-20 mm ### How big is Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee? 7-12 mm ### How long does Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee fly? 20 km/h ### What does Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee eat? This busy bee sips nectar for energy and collects pollen to feed its young! ### Where is Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee usually found? Urban areas, gardens ### How does Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Flamingo Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flamingo-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden ## 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: [Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-winged-striped-sweat-bee)