fauna

Green Metallic Bee (family Halictidae) on Duck Potato blossom, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Martin County, FL, USA

(photo: Bob Peterson)

Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon sp.), family Halicitidae, on Purple Cone Flower, South Hamilton, MA, USA

(photo: Glen Peterson)

Unidentified Sweat Bee, family Halicitidae, emerges from its burrow, Ontario, Canada

(Photo: Ian Marsman)

 Green Metallic Bee aka Sweat Bee (Augochloropsis metallica) on coral vine, Austin, TX

(photo: Jim McColloch)

magicalnaturetour: Halictid Bee (Augochloropsis metallica) on Autumn Sedum

(photo: beckstei)

Metallic Green Bee (Agapostemon splendens) - (photo: Michael Bok)

itjustgoeson: Halictid Bee (stingless) by Merlin.

My favorite bees.

This Halictid bee is concentrating the sugars in its nectar by continually regurgitating liquid, then reswallowing it. This evaporative process reduces the amount of water weight the bee must carry back to its nest.