Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees)
Family Halictidae (Sweat Bees)
Subfamily Halictinae
Tribe Halictini
Genus Agapostemon (Metallic Green Bees)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
the former Agapostemon cockerelli is now synonymized with Augochlora obliquus
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 14 North American species, but only 13 are now recognized, Agapostemon cockerelli having recently been synonymized with Augochlora obliquus.
Identification
Differentiated from other metallic green bees, tribe Augochlorini by: Posterior face of propodeum completely encircled by a salient rim; hind tibiae equaling or exceeding their tarsi in length (Valdosta State U., Florida)
The Phylogeny PDF doc linked to below states on Page 4 that only two North American species of Agapostemon occur in Florida: splendens and texanus. Although Mitchell listed A. virescens for Florida, John Pascarella says there are no county records, and no specimens of virescens have been seen in Florida.
Phylogeny of the bee genus Agapostemon; PDF doc - description, distribution, synonyms, and reclassification, with photos and technical drawings (Jessica Janjic and Laurence Packer, York U., Ontario)
key to genera of Halictidae with accompanying photos, many of which are missing and won't be replaced until fall, 2006 (John Pascarella, Valdosta State U., Florida)
