By Alice Mary Herden on March 5, 2019 ( Leave a comment )

Metallic Sweat Bees ( Halictidae)

These are my favorite bees… like EVER! The coloring is so amazing, these metallic green or blue colors just pop!

Metallic Blue Sweat Bee | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden

There are thousands of species of sweat bees and 60 species alone documented in Florida.

Metallic Blue Sweat Bee | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden

Metallic Blue Sweat Bee | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden

With thistle blooming, it is time to hang around these plants if you are interested in getting some great photos and video, however, you will most likely get more bee butts because they will be digging their way to gather pollen. But hey, who doesn’t like a cute bee butt!

Metallic Blue Sweat Bee | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden

Metallic Blue Sweat Bee | February 28 | Alice Mary Herden

Would like to find out how they obtain that metallic color.. if you know, please comment below! Just to note they are attracted to the salt from human sweat!

Links
http://www.floridasnativebees.com/sweat-bees.html

Know your native pollinators: Sweat bees

Click to access IN89700.pdf

Categories: Bees, Florida State Forest, Pollinators

Tagged as: Bees, Florida, Goethe State Forest, Halictidae, Native Bees, Pollinators, Sweat Bees

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