Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Halictus purus; Augochlora festiva; Augochlora robertsoni; Augochlora banksiella; Halictus astios; Halictus asaphes; Augochlora palmarum
Explanation of Names
Augochlora pura (Say, 1837)
Identification
Diagnostic shape of upper clypeal margin (laterally), with paraocular areas intruding into clypeus (John Ascher's comment).
Truncate marginal cell apex
dark, oval tegulae, epistomal lobes.
Metallic green. It can range from copper to bluish green:
Range
Quebec and Maine to Minnesota, south to Texas and Florida.
Habitat
It nests in wood, under bark or existing holes. Mated females overwinter in wood.
Season
February to November (very early records in the South).
Food
Visits flowers from several families. The Hosts section on its
Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Life Cycle
1. Cells with larvae and pollen mass. 2. Larva and pollen loaves. 3. Larva. 4. Pupa. 5. Adult female. 6. Adult male
Nest with developmental stages from pupa to adult.
They mate in the fall. Males die shortly afterward and females overwinter under bark or in logs.
Remarks
Highly variable in color, some are coppery, others dark green.
Nests under bark. There is great variability on the kinds of cells they build. See:
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. Nesting habits and life cycle of a sweat bee,
Augochlora puraInternet References
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. Nesting habits and life cycle of a sweat bee,
Augochlora pura.