''Augochloropsis viridula'', the northeastern sweat bee, is a brilliant green species of sweat bee in the family

Halictidae Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees (clade Anthophila) with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees (especially the smaller species), as they are often attracted to perspiration. Halictid species are an extremely div ...

Description

The fringe hairs of the northeastern sweat bee is about the same length as the metasomal hairs. Two to four puncture widths separate the

terga A ''tergum'' (Latin for "the back"; : ''terga'', associated adjective tergal) is the dorsal ('upper') portion of an arthropod segment other than the head. The anterior edge is called the 'base' and posterior edge is called the 'apex' or 'margin'. ...

Range

It can be primarily found in the Midwestern United States as well as Canada where it coincides with the similar-looking Metallic epauletted-sweat bee. Though, it is not found as far out as in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by British

entomologist Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...

, Frederick Smith in 1853. In 2022, researchers from the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

conducted a taxonomy study, which concluded in ''

Augochloropsis metallica ''Augochloropsis metallica'' or Metallic epauletted-sweat bee is a brilliant green species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. Their native range encompasses Central America and extends into parts of North America, where they are commonly fo ...

'' being split into five distinct taxa, ''A. metallica'', ''

Augochloropsis cuprea ''Augochloropsis cuprea'' is a brilliant green species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. Range Its range is only known as North America. Taxonomy In 2022, researchers from the University of Minnesota conducted a taxonomy study, which c ...

'', ''

Augochloropsis fulgida ''Augochloropsis fulgida'' is a brilliant green species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. __TOC__ Range Their range extends from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska down to Florida. Taxonomy In 2022, researchers from the University of Minnesota ...

'', ''

Augochloropsis fulvofimbriata ''Augochloropsis fulvofimbriata'' is a brilliant green species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae. Range It is found throughout Central and South America. Taxonomy In 2022, researchers from the University of Minnesota conducted a taxon ...

'', and ''A. viridula''. ''A. viridula'' had been historically referred to as ''Augochloropsis metallica fulgida'', however the researchers concluded it was a separate species and resurrected its original description, ''A. viridula''.

References

{{taxonbar, from1=Q135240889 Insects described in 1853 Taxa named by Frederick Smith (entomologist) Halictidae