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One of THE most common bees in Eastern North America and one of the most woodland oriented. This species nests in rotting wood and I have found them overwintering underneath the loose bark of logs on the ground.

One of THE most common bees in Eastern North America and one of the most woodland oriented. This species nests in rotting wood and I have found them overwintering underneath the loose bark of logs on the ground.

Augochlora regina, Dominican Republic, formerly A. elegans.Also have been dubbed the Blue Man bee

Augochlora regina, female, March 2012 Dominican Republic, formerly A. elegans

Augochlora regina, female, Dominican Republic, formerly known as Augochlora elegans.

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

The most commonly captured bee in the Eastern United States is Augochlorella aurata, however, in the Deep South you start seeing some A. gratiosa, which is very, very similar, so much so that for years I thought they might be the same thing...but thankfully April Hamblin brought in a few, including a male, that turned out to be this species.

The most commonly captured bee in the Eastern United States is Augochlorella aurata, however, in the Deep South you start seeing some A. gratiosa, which is very, very similar, so much so that for years I thought they might be the same thing...but thankfully April Hamblin brought in a few, including a male, that turned out to be this species.

Augochlorella persimillis. A small but blingiful green bee. Oft confused with A. aurata and an interesting distribution, more MidWest but seemingly stops short of making it all the way to the East Coast...or does it? Some East Coast specimens look pretty much like this species, need to get out the molecular guns on those. Brooke Goggins is photographer.

Augochlorella persimillis. A small but blingiful green bee. Oft confused with A. aurata and an interesting distribution, more MidWest but seemingly stops short of making it all the way to the East Coast...or does it? Some East Coast specimens look pretty much like this species, need to get out the molecular guns on those. Brooke Goggins is photographer.

Augochlorella persimillis. A small but blingiful green bee. Oft confused with A. aurata and an interesting distribution, more MidWest but seemingly stops short of making it all the way to the East Coast...or does it? Some East Coast specimens look pretty much like this species, need to get out the molecular guns on those. Brooke Goggins is photographer.

A western Augochlorella species... this time from Zion National Park in Utah, known for its rock formations, but also protecting some darn nice bees. Kim Huntzinger identified this bad boy and Wayne Boo took the shot today and of course the staff of Zion did the bee catching.

A western Augochlorella species... this time from Zion National Park in Utah, known for its rock formations, but also protecting some darn nice bees. Kim Huntzinger identified this bad boy and Wayne Boo took the shot today and of course the staff of Zion did the bee catching.

Biscayne National Park, male Florida, A Southeaster Bee of the deepest iridescence

Biscayne National Park, male Florida, A Southeaster Bee of the deepest iridescence

Biscayne National Park, male Florida, A Southeaster Bee of the deepest iridescence