Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee
Agapostemon splendens
This record describes Agapostemon splendens (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | Hind femora robust, thickened, only about twice as long as the greatest width. |
| Females | Abdomen metallic green. Dark wings, not clear. |
Wikipedia reference for Agapostemon splendens: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agapostemon_splendens.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Halictidae (Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees)
- Subfamily
- Halictinae
- Tribe
- Halictini
- Genus
- Agapostemon (Striped Sweat Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Montana to Arizona to Florida to Maine. Discover Life Map
Seasonal Activity
April to October, with records in Florida of February, March and November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Agapostemon (Agapostemon) splendens (Lepeletier, 1841)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Agapostemon splendens. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee
What is Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee?
Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens) is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Female | Length 10mm |
| Male | Length 11mm |
How do you identify Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | Hind femora robust, thickened, only about twice as long as the greatest width. |
| Females | Abdomen metallic green. Dark wings, not clear. |
Where is Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee found?
Range: Montana to Arizona to Florida to Maine. Discover Life Map
What does Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee eat?
The diet of the Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee includes Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee active?
Brown-winged Striped Sweat bee: seasonal activity - April to October, with records in Florida of February, March and November..