Peridot Sweat Bee

augochlorella pomoniella

The Peridot Sweat Bee (Augochlorella pomoniella) is a dazzling, emerald-green jewel of the insect world. Native to western North America, this tiny native bee is a member of the sweat bee family, Halictidae, famous for their unusual attraction to the salts found in human perspiration. Far from being pests, these bees are incredibly valuable, hard-working native pollinators that help sustain local ecosystems, wild habitats, and backyard gardens alike. These fascinating insects display flexible social behaviors, transitioning between solitary nesting and small, cooperative colonies depending on environmental conditions, climate, and geographic location. They construct intricate burrows in bare soil or rotting wood, where females raise their young. Watching a Peridot Sweat Bee zip from flower to flower is a magical experience, as their metallic bodies glint like polished gemstones under the bright summer sun. Use the Snappit app to scan, identify, and learn about Peridot Sweat Bee in real-time.

Habitat: Found in open meadows, coastal chaparral, suburban gardens, and forest edges where sunny patches of bare soil and abundant wildflowers are present.

Appearance

This diminutive bee measures around 7 to 9 millimeters in length and is immediately recognizable by its striking, brilliant metallic-green or golden-green exoskeleton that shimmers intensely in the sunlight. The abdomen is slightly flattened, and the face features large, dark compound eyes. Females possess specialized pollen-carrying hairs (scopae) on their hind legs, which often appear heavily dusted with bright yellow pollen. Their wings are translucent with delicate venation, beating at rapid speeds to produce a high-pitched, subtle hum.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyHalictidaeGenusAugochlorella

Peridot Sweat Bee

Interesting facts

Their intense metallic color is a form of physical structural coloration, which means their brilliant shine won't fade even long after they have died.

They are excellent buzz pollinators, using rapid muscle vibrations to shake pollen free from flowers that other bees struggle to pollinate.

While females can sting if squeezed or stepped on, their sting is incredibly mild and often described as a tiny, brief prick.

Special abilities

Their shimmering metallic-green hue is created by microscopic physical structures on their exoskeleton that refract light, rather than chemical pigments.

They possess highly sensitive receptors to detect and consume mammalian sweat, which provides them with vital sodium and moisture.

Females use their strong mandibles and legs to excavate waterproof subterranean nests, coating the cells with a self-produced waxy secretion.

Measurements & details

Length: 1 cm
Wingspan: 1-2 cm
Weight: 0.00001-0.00003 kg
Lifespan: 1 years
Top Speed: 15 km/h
Clutch Size: 10-30
Incubation: 3-5 days

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on energy-rich nectar, while collecting protein-dense pollen to provision their subterranean nests for developing larvae.

Age differences: Larvae consume a baked pollen loaf mixed with nectar provided by their mother, while adults feed directly on nectar from flowers.