Missouri has many species of halictid bees, or sweat bees. Some are solitary, but a number show different levels of social behavior. They're named for their attraction to perspiration, which offers them precious moisture and salts.

Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees [1] (clade Anthophila) with nearly 4,500 species. [2] They are commonly called sweat bees (especially the smaller species), as they are often attracted to perspiration. [3][4] Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in …

Green sweat bees feed on the nectar of flowers and the honeydew of aphid colonies. They are active April through September and nest colonially in soil, meaning that many bees use a single entrance in the ground, but branch out to build their own nest.

Bumble bees can buzz pollinate flowers, like tomatoes, that require vibration to release pollen. Researchers are investigating why some species of native bees, including bumble bees, are dissappearing.

Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees and predatory wasps occurring in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Bees and wasps can either be social or solitary.

Dec 15, 2021 · dwest Priority Species (RSGCN): Bees Updated as of December 15, 2021 The following bee species were identified as Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN) through a collaborative assessment process carried out by the Midwest Landscape In.

The bicolored striped-sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens) is a stunning green bee that you can find in your garden all year long. It lives mostly in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States (but with sightings from coast to coast).

The Wisconsin Bee Identification Guide provides information about 13 of the most common bees found in Wisconsin. From the very small Sweat Bee, measuring in at 1/4" long, to the big Bumble Bee, this guide helps identify many incredibly important pollinators!

In the Upper Midwest, there are over 400 species of wild native bees that are important for the pollination of the region’s specialty crops and wild flowering plants. Roughly one third of crops and about 85% of the earth’s flowering plants rely on pollinators to set seed and fruit.

Look for Green Sweat Bees in late summer on Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) as well as many of the fall flowering Asters. These native bees are fast moving and camera shy.