Fauna
Insect

Texas Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon texanus

Also 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 are metallic green over the entire body, abdomen included, while males display bright yellow and black striping on the abdomen. 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
Texas Striped Sweat Bee 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 →
Key facts
Diet & preyFloral 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)
Classification
  1. OrderHymenoptera
  2. FamilyHalictidae
  3. GenusAgapostemon
  4. SpeciesAgapostemon texanus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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