Green Metallic Bee / Sweat Bees
Physical Features
A Green Metallic bee is one of over 500 species of native bees called sweat bees. Their name appropriately is derived from the green metallic coloring of their body, however, other sweat bees can be blue or bronze. These small bees range from 1/8 to ½ inch long.
Life Cycle
Complete metamorphosis
The adult sweat bee will lay an egg in a burrow and collect pollen back for the larva to feed on once hatched. Pupation occurs during the winter completing development their second year. These solitary bees will live independently, not depending on a colony for their survival.
Habits
- Diet: Adults feed on flower nectar.
- Activity: Typically seen in summer.
- Preferred Climate: Warm
- Defense: Rarely sting but will if provoked
- Cautions: Attracted to human and animal sweat
- Home Invasion: Will infest yards if barren creating small mounds with an opening at the top. In some cases large clusters will be created of these mounds as this solitary bee will often be living in large clusters (aggregations) when prime conditions exist. This can be intimidating to the homeowner.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Properly fertilize and water lawns promoting healthy turf.
- Targeted insecticide treatment may be necessary if larger populations, aggregations occur to prevent possibility of begin stung.
Interesting Fact
Sweat bees received their name due to being attracted to human and animal sweat. They will land on your body and collect sweat droplets.
Symptoms
Bee stings can produce different reactions, ranging from temporary pain and discomfort to a severe allergic reaction. Having one type of reaction doesn’t mean you’ll always have the same reaction every time you’re stung. Bee stings are minor and usually include an instant, sharp pain at the sting site. A small, white spot where the stinger punctured the skin will appear with slight swelling around the area. In most cases, the pain will disappear within a few hours. Sometimes anaphylaxis can occur, which is a severe allergic reaction. This includes hives, pale skin, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, a weak and rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
