{"id":44867,"date":"2025-06-01T15:44:06","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T19:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=44867"},"modified":"2025-06-20T15:51:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T19:51:05","slug":"native-animal-profile-sweat-bees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2025\/06\/01\/native-animal-profile-sweat-bees\/","title":{"rendered":"Native Animal Profile: Sweat Bees"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Katy Gorsuch, Education Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Green<\/a>

Green Sweat Bee by Alex Andes-Gascon, DNR Photo Contest 2019<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s Sweat Bee Summer!<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve covered sweat bees in a previous edition<\/a>, but with the temperature rising, the temptation to return to our favorite iridescent insect is undeniable (don\u2019t tell the other bugs!)<\/p>\n

As the name suggests, sweat bees are sometimes found collecting sweat from humans. The purpose of such an unusual move is to collect salts, which are often difficult to obtain in the environment. Much like a cow or deer may use a salt-lick, these bees will lap up sweat to supplement their vegetarian diet. The family of bees that are collectively known as sweat bees has some 4.5 thousand species and is called \u201cHalictidae<\/a>,\u201d giving the group the nickname \u201cHalictid\u201d bees. There is some controversy over the origin of the family name<\/a>, which may come from the Greek halizein<\/em><\/a> meaning \u201cto gather\u201d or <\/a>hal\u0113s<\/em><\/a> meaning \u201cassembled.<\/a>\u201d Let\u2019s further muddy the waters by noting that the word \u201chalite,\u201d the mineral from which table salt is taken, comes from the Greek for h\u00e1ls<\/em> for \u201csalt,\u201d and suggesting another candidate for the origin of the name.<\/p>\n

Halictidae is the second largest family of bees in the world<\/a>, only beaten by the Apidae family, which comprises some 5700 species, including bumblebees and honeybees. Maryland is home to about 120 species of bees<\/a> in the Halictidae family! Our Maryland sweat bees are classified into nine different genera, of which most belong to the Lasioglossum<\/em> genus.<\/p>\n

Individual species can be difficult to differentiate, and many of Maryland\u2019s sweat bees have no common names (only scientific ones) so we\u2019ll be discussing sweat bees more generally.<\/p>\n

\"Metallic<\/a>

Metallic Green Bee on Thistle Flower by Amy Morrison, DNR Photo Contest 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

A Shining Example<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most visible characteristics of many sweat bees is their vibrant green or blue metallic appearance. The genuses Augochloroposis, Augochlorella,<\/em> and Augochlora<\/em> all take their names from the Greek words for \u201cto shine\u201d and \u201cgreen.<\/a>\u201d Along with Agapostemon,<\/em> these genera consist only of metallic species in Maryland.<\/p>\n

Not all sweat bees are metallic green and blue, although these are certainly noticeable. Maryland species of Sphecodes <\/em>are red and black, giving rise to their nickname \u201cblood bees,\u201d although intensive interrogation of our state entomologist has led to the reluctant conclusion that none of them are vampires. Dieunomia <\/em>has no metallic species in Maryland, and while Nomia maneei<\/em> (the pearly-banded bee) wouldn\u2019t be called metallic, it does possess a rare and beautiful coloration<\/a>. Not many bees can pull off opalescent banding, but this bee does it with panache!<\/p>\n

\"Nomia<\/a>

USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab<\/p><\/div>\n

The Lasioglossum <\/em>genus is widely varied — some members look more like what we may consider \u201cnormal\u201d for a bee, while others do display the green or blue colors we associate with sweat bees. In between are a chorus of variable blacks, deep blues, and even reds that are difficult to appreciate without the help of a microscope!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Sweat the Small Stuff<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many sweat bees are much smaller<\/a> than their more well-known cousins — the Gotham bee<\/a> (Lasioglossum gotham<\/em>) is about the size of a grain of rice<\/a>, with the males being even smaller! Being tiny has the advantage of being less noticeable to predators, but means that such tiny bees may easily be overlooked by humans as well: the Gotham bee was only discovered in 2010<\/a>, despite being common in New York City! The bee, along with ten other sweat bee species, were discovered as part of a survey of the city\u2019s bee populations for the American Museum of Natural History.<\/p>\n

One recent study<\/a> into the species Halictus ligatus<\/em><\/a> found that their size varied significantly across different environments in three different cities: Chicago, St. Louis, and Detroit. Temperature seemed to play a significant role in their sizes, although it was not the only factor. The findings carry weight for the future of native bees in North America and how they may adapt to the rising temperatures caused by climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sweat Bees of Maryland – Halictidae<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genus<\/span><\/td>\nSpecies in MD<\/span><\/td>\nSome Notable Characteristics<\/span><\/td>\nNotable Members in Maryland<\/p>\n

* most common, based on number of identifications
\n\u2756 rare
\n\u2691 non-native<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Lasioglossum<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n85<\/td>\nName: \u201chairy tongue\u201d
\nHighly variable appearances<\/td>\n		Lasioglossum fuscipenne<\/a>*<\/p>\n

L.coeruleum<\/a><\/p>\n

L.semicaeruleum<\/a><\/p>\n

L.zephyrus<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Sphecodes<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n17<\/span><\/td>\nName: \u201cLike a wasp\u201d
\naka blood bees<\/td>\n		\n

Sphecodes<\/span><\/i> coronus<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

S.<\/span><\/i> fattigi<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

S.<\/span><\/i> heraclei<\/span><\/i>: Cyclops Blood Bee<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

S.<\/span><\/i> antennariae<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Halictus<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n5<\/td>\nFurrow bees<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n\n

Halictus confusus<\/span><\/i><\/a>*<\/span><\/p>\n

H. tectus<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u2691<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Agapostemon<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n4<\/td>\nName:
\n\u201cStamen loving\u201d
\nMetallic<\/td>\n		\n

Agapostemon sericeus<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

A.<\/span><\/i> virescens<\/span><\/i><\/a>*<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Augochloropsis<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n2<\/td>\nName:
\n\u201cAugo\u201d – to shine
\n\u201cChloros\u201d – green
\nMetallic<\/td>\n		\n

Augochloropsis metallica<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

A.sumptuosa<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Augochlorella<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n2<\/td>\nName:
\n\u201cAugo\u201d – to shine
\n\u201cChloros\u201d – green
\nMetallic<\/td>\n		Augochlorella aurata<\/a>
\nA. persimilis<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dieunomia<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n2<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\nDieunomia heteropoda<\/a>\u2756
\nD.nevadensis<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nomia<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n1<\/td>\nPearly-banded bee
\nHighly state rare<\/td>\n		Nomia maneei<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u2756<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Augochlora<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/td>\n1<\/td>\nName:
\n\u201cAugo\u201d – to shine
\n\u201cChloros\u201d – green
\nMetallic<\/td>\n		Augochlora<\/span><\/i> pura<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bee-havior<\/b><\/p>\n

When we think of bees, images of hives and queens immediately come to mind. However, the vast majority of native bees are actually solitary. Sweat bees exist in a kind of in-between space; some members are solitary, while others are what is known as \u201cprimitively eusocial.\u201d <\/span>Eusociality <\/span><\/a>is animal social behavior in which a group of adults lives together, cooperatively caring for their young. Additionally, eusocial groups display overlapping generations, and within the group there is a division of labor based on reproduction (think of the queen and workers in a typical honey bee hive). \u201cPrimitive\u201d eusociality means that there is not much difference physically between those that reproduce and those who do not, and that the colonies tend to be small and brief, unlike more established eusocial species who may maintain an ongoing colony in the thousands for decades (one hive in Scotland may have been occupied for <\/span>hundreds of years<\/span><\/a>). For comparison, an <\/span>L. zephryus<\/span><\/i> nest typically has <\/span>less than 20 bees<\/span><\/a> living in it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides the sweat bees that are primitively eusocial, others are communal, solitary, and still others are parasitic. The fact that so much diversity exists within the sweat bee family has led <\/span>experts to look intensely at the group as a model<\/span><\/a> to understand the evolution of social behavior in bees as a whole!<\/span><\/p>\n

Blood bees (<\/span>Sphecodes<\/span><\/i>) are known to participate in kleptoparasitism, or food stealing. This is a common tactic across the animal kingdom, and many animals will steal food from others as the opportunity arises. Blood bees have acquired the additional nickname of \u201ccuckoo bees\u201d due to their specific tactic; they will find already laid bee nests and lay their own eggs inside, just like cuckoo birds do with other bird species. Blood bees are not the only cuckoo bees, and this tactic extends to some species of wasp, butterflies, and fish as well as other birds. Blood bees are most likely to seek other sweat bees as the host for their eggs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite all this, adult sweat bees have a varied diet of many native flowers regardless of their social adaptations. Due to being generalists, they visit multiple types of flowers to gather nectar and pollen, acting as diverse and wide-ranging pollinators as a result. When they land to collect salt from humans or other sweaty animals, they do not bite or sting in order to get the minerals they\u2019re seeking, but gently lap it up. Sweat bees are unlikely to sting, and <\/span>no more dangerous<\/span><\/a> than any other bee to those of us without a bee sting allergy. This summer, if a sweat bee graces you with their presence, take an opportunity to observe this unusual and fascinating bee family up close. To further support them, plant native wildflowers in pots, or in the ground, <\/span>on your porch<\/span><\/a> or in your yard, and avoid pesticides that often poison species other than the ones they intend to target. No matter your space, <\/span>small<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>large<\/span><\/a>, your help makes a difference in the lives of our small buzzing buddies!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read more about Maryland\u2019s native bees here:<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Maryland Bees<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sweat Bees<\/span><\/a>– Chesapeake Bay Program<\/span><\/p>\n

Gardening for Native Bees<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Wild Acres<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Wildflower Meadows<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"HabiChat<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Katy Gorsuch, Education Specialist It\u2019s Sweat Bee Summer! We\u2019ve covered sweat bees in a previous edition, but with the temperature rising, the temptation to return to our favorite iridescent insect is undeniable (don\u2019t tell the other bugs!) As the name suggests, sweat bees are sometimes found collecting sweat from humans. The purpose of such  Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":245,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[957],"tags":[3614],"class_list":["post-44867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-appnews","tag-habichat"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44867"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44892,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44867\/revisions\/44892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}