We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at ...

We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at ...

We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust! The following post was originally published on June 3, 2020.

This beautiful critter is a female Augochlora pura, which is a type of sweat bee. These bees are herbivores and you can usually find them lapping up nectar from flowers. Most sweat bees belong to the family Halicitidae, and they get their common name because they sometimes land on people to lick their perspiration, most likely for the salt. Unfortunately, this behavior sometimes causes them to get swatted or crushed, which often causes them to sting; however, a sweat bee sting is about the mildest sting you can experience.

Augochlora pura is a solitary bee, which means it doesn't have a social structure like honeybees do. These tiny bees make their nests in rotting wood, usually by seeking out an existing burrow created by another insect as its starting point. While they don't have a social structure, multiple females will sometimes overwinter together, but they do not cooperate with one another (I think we've all had roommates like that).

Thank you to VMNH Associate Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Dr. Kal Ivanov for identifying this one for me!

ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com).

NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!

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