Insect · GBIF taxon 5042859
Texas Striped Sweat Bee
Agapostemon texanusAlso known as Metallic Green Sweat Bee, Texas Sweat Bee
Brilliant emerald green heads and thoraxes make female Texas striped sweat bees striking visitors to sunny gardens and native prairies across North America. Females feature black and yellow banded abdomens, while males display bright yellow and black striping over their entire lower body. Females dig subterranean burrows in bare, well-drained soil to rear offspring, sometimes nesting in loose communal aggregations that share a common entrance branch.
MetallicPollinatorSolitary
Licensed reference(c) eebee, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by eebee · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Floral nectar
- Pollen granules
Predators
- Robber flies
- Crab spiders
- Insectivorous birds
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and soil compaction
HabitatsPrairies, meadows, gardens, pastures, and open woodlands
Life span4–6 weeks for adults (mated females overwinter)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderHymenoptera
- FamilyHalictidae
- GenusAgapostemon
- SpeciesAgapostemon texanus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Females possess a minor sting but rarely use it unless trapped against skin; observe peacefully.
Responsible observation
- Floral Watching: Look for females gathering pollen on sunflowers, asters, and coneflowers during warm afternoon daylight.
- Nest Spotting: Observe dry, unpaved patches of sunny soil to see females entering tiny burrow entrances in the ground.
- Sweat Attraction: Allow them to land briefly to sip perspiration salts, gently brushing them away only if uncomfortable.
Co-Pollinator USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Christina Butler, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-byFamily Member
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