Identify please? One of many fun bugs in my garden. - Agapostemon

Agapostemon male

texanus or femoratus

… John S. Ascher, 20 October, 2008 - 8:39pm

Welcome to Bug Guide, Kevin

That's a pretty photo, but it would be more useful for identification purposes if you cropped it closer, as you've done with your flies. This insect is a bee, but that's about all I can tell you, seeing it this small.

… Ron Hemberger, 20 October, 2008 - 4:32pm

Hey Ron :)

Does this help?

Looks like one of the Metallic Green Bees (Agapostemon) to me. Any idea on the exact species?

… Ron M., 20 October, 2008 - 5:38pm

Much better, Ron; thanks!

I'll hazard a guess: Agapostemon splendens, male. But Jansen, please wait to see if you get an expert opinion on this. We currently have two really good bee people at the site. One is Dr. John Ascher, who, when asked what he'd like in the way of photos of bees responded:

"It is always good to have shots of a wing showing venation, frontal and/or top views of the head, a lateral view of the thorax, and a dorsal view of the metasoma (abdomen), especially the apex (tip). For species ID it is often helpful to show the antennae, including the scape, and also the legs. Please shoot as many shots as possible on high res and try to submit multiple images even if the differences between them are subtle"

For now, I'd suggest we just wait and see. Jansen, if you do take more photos of a different individual - and who's to know otherwise? - submit them together, but separate from this post.

… Ron Hemberger, 20 October, 2008 - 6:57pm

A. splendens does not occur in California

Map:

http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20m?kind=Agapostemon+splendens

… John S. Ascher, 20 October, 2008 - 8:38pm

Oops, thanks so much.

I think we have an imposter at our county natural history site. Well, we'll take care of him!

… Ron Hemberger, 20 October, 2008 - 8:48pm

Would another photo help?

I can try and get it a little closer and maybe from a different angle...

… Jansen Elliott, 20 October, 2008 - 6:12pm