Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee
Agapostemon virescens
This record describes Agapostemon virescens (species). Recorded family: Halictidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | Hind femora slender, fully three times as long as the greatest width. |
| Females | Abdomen black, with pale basal fasciae. |
Wikipedia reference for Agapostemon virescens: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agapostemon_virescens.
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
Washington and British Columbia to Quebec and Maine, south to Texas and Florida. Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
April to October.
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) virescens (Fabricius, 1775)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Agapostemon virescens. 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 Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Ted Kropiewnicki , John S. Ascher , JohnMaxwell22 , Robert Lord Zimlich , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee
What is Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee?
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens) is a species in the family Halictidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | Hind femora slender, fully three times as long as the greatest width. |
| Females | Abdomen black, with pale basal fasciae. |
Where is Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee found?
Range: Washington and British Columbia to Quebec and Maine, south to Texas and Florida. Discover Life Global Map
What does Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee eat?
The diet of the Bicolored 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 Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee active?
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee: seasonal activity - April to October..