This was a tough one. Good job to those of you who guessed correctly that this critter is a Sweat Bee, but the answer we were looking for was Metallic Green Sweat Bee, Augochlora pura.
According to Native Beeology, the Metallic Green Sweat Bee, unlike the Green Sweat Bee, is green all over, and like most Sweat Bees, is attracted to human sweat. This solitary bee nests in pre-existing tunnels or excavates a chamber in rotting wood. The female collects pollen on hairs on her hind legs (called scopae). She takes the pollen back to her brood cell to provision her young. These bees produce two to three generations each season. Females born in late summer spend the winter dormant in a shelter, or hibernaculum, under a rotting log.
Last Week's mystery: Metallic Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura) Photo: Judy Gallagher
Each Monday we’ll post a new photo and identify the previous week’s winner. They’ll receive an ASNV hat or tote bag.
Be sure to post your answer on our Facebook page @AudubonVA under the Monday Mystery post...do not reply to this email with your guess! We only accept entries from our Facebook page, not via email.
Please remember to write the common name, being mindful of hyphens, uppercase and lowercase letters and always include the Latin name in parentheses. To learn more about bird names click here.
Who is this? Photo: Judy Gallagher
This week’s Mystery: Who is this?
Post your guess (please list both common name and Latin name) on our Facebook page @AudubonVA under this week's Monday Nature Mystery. Remember, we only accept entries from our Facebook page, not via email!
Good luck!
-Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
Please note that we only accept entries on our Facebook page where they are date- and time-stamped. Remember that, if you need to correct your entry, you should make a new posting rather than correcting the old one so that we get a correct time stamp for your correction. Winners are limited to one prize every 90 days, maximum 2 per person.
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