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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Sweat, Furrow, Nomiine, and Short-faced Bees (Halictidae) » Sweat and Furrow Bees (Halictinae) » Halictini » Striped Sweat Bees (Agapostemon) » Subgenus Agapostemon (Agapostemon Subgenus Agapostemon) » Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens)
Photo#125159
Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - female
Copyright © 2007 Anne Burton

Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - Female
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, USA
June 27, 2007
Series - 2 bees leaving nest. 2nd bee appears to step on, bite, and then toss the first bee aside, as it takes off. 1st bee is stunned, briefly, then flies off. Image 1 of 5

I am curious: does anyone know what this behavior is about? Do these bees have social status? Are bees often aggressive to one another?

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Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - female Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - female Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - female Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - female Agapostemon virescens - aggression (?) leaving the nest - a series - Agapostemon virescens - female
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Contributed by Anne Burton on 7 July, 2007 - 6:26pm
Last updated 30 December, 2008 - 7:19am

Primitive sociality.
I believe that Agapostemon females nest communally, each female preparing her own nest cells underground, but all sharing a common burrow entrance.
… Eric R. Eaton, 10 July, 2007 - 5:27pm login or register to post comments

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