Sweat Bee

Halictidae

Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees, as they are often attracted to perspiration. Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in appearance. These bees occur all over the world and are found on every continent except Antarctica. Usually dark-colored and often metallic, halictids are found in various sizes, colors and patterns. Several species are all or partly green and a few are red, purple, or blue. A number of them have yellow markings, especially the males, which commonly have yellow faces, a pattern widespread among the various families of bees. The family is one of many with short tongues and is best distinguished by the arcuate basal vein found on the wing. Females in this family tend to be larger than the males. They are the group for which the term eusocial was coined by entomologist Suzanne Batra.

Agapostemon

The genus Agapostemon is a common group of Western Hemisphere sweat bees.

Perspiration

Perspiration, also known as sweat, diaphoresis and hidrosis, is the fluid secreted by sweat glands in the skin of mammals.

Bee

Bees are winged insects that form a monophyletic clade Anthophila within the superfamily Apoidea of the order Hymenoptera, with over 20,000 known species in seven recognized families. Some species – including honey bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees – are social insects living in colonies, whereas over 90% of bee species – including mason bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees – are solitary.

sweat bee

Noun

1. Any of various bees that are attracted to the salt in human sweat, principally Halictidae spp.