Images

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

The lovely drinkeyeball Augochlora pura...one of the most common bees of forests and forest edges, here with its tongue partially extended just to remind us how different bees are from mammals, remarkable really.

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.

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.