05/12/2026
On a sunny day in late April along the Deep Woods Trail, I caught a green shimmer out of the corner of my eye. On closer inspection, I noticed that there were multiple metallic-green bees buzzing back and forth around a few rotting logs at the edge of the trail. I observed the bees for a while, watching each bee retreat into and reemerge from tiny holes in the wood.
The aptly named, Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura), is hard to miss thanks to its brilliant metallic-green coloring. These solitary bees are commonly found in forested landscapes, where they will nest in rotting wood. In spring, female bees seek out decaying logs, nesting either beneath loose bark or inside existing holes in the wood, just like the one seen in this photo.
Before laying eggs, the female bee collects nectar and pollen, mixing them together and placing it inside the hole or cavity. The bee lays a single egg on top of this pollen-nectar mixture and then seals off the chamber, called a cell, using mud and other debris. The bee repeats this process multiple times, creating a series of self-contained cells that help protect the baby bees from ants and other predators.
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the nectar and pollen that mom left behind, growing until they are ready to enter the pupal stage. Adult bees emerge from the wood later in the summer or fall to seek out mates, After mating, the males die, while the females feed before going into hibernation for the winter.
-Amanda, Director
