Bees of Zihuatanejo

EPIFAMILY ANTHOPHILA

-Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

-Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)

-Ants, Bees, and Stinging Wasps (Infraorder Aculeata)

-Bees and Apoid Wasps (Superfamily Apoidea)

-Bees (Epifamily Anthophila)

-Sweat Bees (Family Halictidae)

-Sweat and Furrow Bees (Subfamily Halictinae)

-Augochlorine Sweat Bees (Tribe Augochlorini)

-Genus Augochlora

With it's metallic green sheen may not look much like a bee, but they are very important for pollination. Pseudaugochlora bees are broad generalist pollinators that visit a wide range of wildflowers. They are so named because they are attracted to human sweat. The typically build their nests in the ground. These bees are small, generally ranging from 5 to 8 mm in length. Augochlora bees are generalist foragers, visiting a wide range of flowering plants. They gather both nectar and pollen and play an essential role in pollinating various wildflowers, as well as some crops.

Range

The genus Augochlora is distributed from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America.
Numerous species occur throughout Mexico, including the Pacific coast of Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.
Most species are associated with warm forests and woodland habitats.

Habitat

Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, woodland edges, secondary forests, gardens, orchards, and forest clearings.
Most species nest in rotting wood, decaying branches, or soft, dead tree trunks, unlike many other sweat bees that nest in soil.
Frequently visits flowering plants in sunny openings and along forest edges.

Behaviour

Most species are solitary, although a few exhibit communal or primitively social nesting, with several females sharing a nest entrance.
Active during the day, visiting a wide variety of flowers while collecting pollen and nectar.
Females excavate nesting tunnels in decaying wood and construct individual brood cells for their offspring.
Generally docile and rarely sting unless directly handled.

Size