BugBug BUMBLEBEESWEAT BEE MIMIC ofof the the (Agapostemon(Laphria spp.) flavicollis) MonthMonth

Agapostemon is a widespread preference. Like other members of cases, multiple females may share Atgenus first of bees glance, in North youAmerica, may flavicollisHalictidae, ,they is commonly are short-tongued found aand single beetles. nest entrance, Once but they each have withbelieve 14 known this speciesis a bumblebee. across the acrossand have the difficulty eastern Unitedextracting States. nectar individualcollected builds their and prey, provisions they return her UnitedHowever, States it’s and shortCanada. straight Most Theyfrom deepbreed flowers. in decaying Agapostemon logs in toown their brood perch cells. and inject the speciesantennae, have along-bearded metallic green head face, deciduouscan often be forests, observed and foraging as adults, insect with a digestive enzyme and thorax tapering with a body black and give yellow clues arethroughout often seen the summer resting and on fall sunlit on that dissolvesBy Rachel its McLaughlin internal tissues. tostriped its abdomen,true identity: however a some robber vegetation.plants in the family Asteraceae, such The robber fly then sucks the speciesfly. Robber may be entirelyflies ingreen. the Their genus as the sunflower in the above image. fluid out, and it is ready to hunt brightLaphria metallic are common green coloration mimics of Robber flies are predatory again. givesbumblebees. rise to their Theycommon are name: usually the insectsAgapostemon that can hunt be foundby perching nesting metallicquite hairygreen bees.with black and andin the waiting ground acrossfor insects a variety to of pass soil yellow bodies. The bumblebee by.types, They from prey very uponsandy to insects thick clay. like Allmimic Agapostemon pictured are here,generalist Laphria otherMost species robber are flies, solitary, bees, however wasps, By Rachel McLaughlin foragers, meaning they have no floral some will nest communally. In these February 2021

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