Small green bees

JP · December 10, 2007, 04:31:05 PM

Was at a customer's house today and saw honeybees foraging on some type of small purpleish type flower. Along with the honeybees were a few bees that looked like honeybees but were green, 1/3 the size of a honeybee and very quick. I watched them gather nectar from the flowers with their proboscis, just fleeting glimpses, because they were so fast. Their abdomens had rings like honeybees. I've done some googling and can't find them. Anyone have any guesses as to what these bees are? They don't look like flies at all. I thought about getting the camera out of my truck but I didn't want the thing to go away, never to be seen again, so I have no pics, sorry.

Sincerely, JP

TwT · December 10, 2007, 04:41:49 PM

what you seen is a small green shiny bee (sweet bee), they are interesting and nest in the ground, is this your bee.... a neighbor here has the nest in a 20 foot area every year, said they been there for years

JP · December 10, 2007, 04:44:31 PM

Hard to tell by that picture Ted.

TwT · December 10, 2007, 04:46:29 PM

look here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfredo11/490729597/

JP · December 10, 2007, 04:52:43 PM

Ted, these bees I observed had rings that were intermittant with green on their abdomens. The bee you have pictured has a solid green abdomen.

Sincerely, JP

JP · December 10, 2007, 05:05:20 PM

I found it! It's called the green metallic bee. Thanks for the replies.

Sincerely, JP

KONASDAD · December 10, 2007, 05:15:02 PM

Quote from: JP on December 10, 2007, 05:05:20 PM
I found it! It's called the green metallic bee. Thanks for the replies.

Sincerely, JP

You gonna make me look on the net or what!?!?

MrILoveTheAnts · December 10, 2007, 05:35:44 PM

http://bugguide.net/node/view/7997/bgimage
Might be one of these. I don't think they form colonies but are more solitary living in holes in wood or burrows they dig. More likely wood, and they might even be a social parasite of Blue Mason Bees. I know we have such a social parasite living here in NJ.

JP · December 10, 2007, 05:50:12 PM

Sorry Konas, didn't wanna make you look, but...

Mr. Ant, good site, its right there, green metallic bee, yes. I've never seen them in my area before, not that they haven't been here a while, I'm sure they have, but today was the first time I noticed them. A very neat little bee.

Sincerely, JP

CWBees · December 10, 2007, 08:28:30 PM

Cool looking bee. Have to say I have never seen one before. But they are supposed to be around. They are considered a type of sweat bee and to not be agressive and to be good pollinators. http://bugguide.net/node/view/7997/bgimage

Brian D. Bray · December 10, 2007, 10:51:48 PM

Quote from: MrILoveTheAnts on December 10, 2007, 05:35:44 PM
http://bugguide.net/node/view/7997/bgimage
I know we have such a social parasite living here in NJ.

There are even more in Washington D.C., They're called Politicians.

JP · December 11, 2007, 02:42:42 AM

CW Bees, that saying about a swarm in May, etc... really depends on your location. Where I am in Louisiana, I'll take a July swarm, an August swarm, and even a September swarm. Our winters are getting shorter and shorter these days. 80F for the next 2 days, including today.

Sincerely, JP

Cindi · December 11, 2007, 10:49:36 AM

JP, interesting observation of the green metallic bee eh? I think that we have something similar here, the bees nest in the ground around our pool in summer time, I have observed them to great lengths this summer, never got any really good pictures though. Such a pretty little bee, I'm surprised that you haven't noticed them before.

JP, do you get any kind of winter? Your temperatures are so nice and high right now, I do kind of envy people that have warm weather all year long. I love the summertime. Beautiful day, beautiful life. Cindi

reinbeau · December 11, 2007, 11:31:59 AM

I see those little bees all the time in my garden, especially when the oregano is blooming - that attracts every kind of pollinator, from gorgeous blue-black iridescent wasps to tiny little bees I don't know the names of - of course our girls are there, too!