{{Short description|Species of bee}} {{Speciesbox | image = Agapostemon angelicus m.jpg | genus = Agapostemon | species = angelicus | authority = Cockerell, 1924 }}

'''''Agapostemon angelicus''''' is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae native to North America.<ref name=itis/><ref name=gbif/> Unlike apid bees, members of the Halictidae family are not honey-producers, although they still are pollinators.

==Subspecies== These two subspecies belong to the species ''Agapostemon angelicus'': * ''Agapostemon angelicus angelicus'' * ''Agapostemon angelicus idahoensis''

==Description and identification== Angeles striped sweat bees are small, approximately 10&nbsp;mm to 14&nbsp;mm in length. The species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism with the female being a metallic green bee across its entire body whereas males have a bright yellow and black banded metasoma. ''A. angelicus'' is easily confused with ''A. texanus''.{{Explain|date=February 2022}} <ref name=beesofcanada/> Only the females have a small stinger.<ref name=beehivehero/>

==Distribution and habitat== The distribution of the Angeles striped sweat bee is limited to North America, from Canada south to Mexico. They are most commonly found in the western and central US, in and around the desert regions of the southwestern US.<ref name=beehivehero/>

==Behavior== As sweat bees, they get their name due to their attraction to human sweat. They often land on humans and lick sweat from the skin for the salt content. Males seem less likely to exhibit this behavior. They are polylectic pollinators, willing to feed off the nectar from any available pollen source.<ref name=hbc/> While generally docile, females are capable of stinging.<ref name=beehivehero/> Primarily active during the day, this species may take refuge on larger flowers during the night. The social nature of varies with females seeming to prefer to be solitary, while groups of males may gather on a single plant.<ref name=epic/>

Like most members of the Halictidae family, female Angeles striped sweat bees build their nests in the form of tunnels in soil, or other substrates. Halictidae bees do not feed their young honey, but instead leave balls of pollen in the nest where eggs are laid for the young to consume.<ref name=epic/> It's unclear if the nests of ''A. Angelicus'' are communally shared by females or not.<ref name=beesofcanada/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=itis> {{Cite web| title=''Agapostemon angelicus'' Report | url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=757522 | website=Integrated Taxonomic Information System | access-date=2019-09-23 }}</ref>

<ref name=gbif> {{Cite web| title=''Agapostemon angelicus'' | url=https://www.gbif.org/species/5042862 | website=GBIF | access-date=2019-09-23 }}</ref>

<ref name=epic> {{Cite web| title=Sweat Bees: Friend or Foe in the Garden? | url=https://www.epicgardening.com/sweat-bees/ | website=EpicGardening.com | access-date=2020-08-17 }}</ref>

<ref name=beesofcanada> {{Cite web| title=Agapostemon Angelicus Cockerell, 1924 | url=http://beesofcanada.com/species/agapostemon-angelicus-cockerell,-1924 | website=BeesofCanada.com | access-date=2020-08-17 }}</ref>

<ref name=beehivehero> {{Cite web| title=Sweat Bees | url=https://beehivehero.com/sweat-bees/ | website=BeeHiveHero.com | access-date=2020-08-17 }}</ref>

<ref name=hbc> {{Cite web| title=Sweat Bees | url=https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/why-bees/sweat-bees/ | website=TheHoneybeeConservancy.com | access-date=2020-08-17 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814044143/https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/why-bees/sweat-bees/ | archive-date=2020-08-14 }}</ref> }}

==Further reading== {{refbegin}} * {{Cite web | access-date = 2019-07-02 | title = Discover Life bee species guide and world checklist (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) | date = 2019 | last1 = Ascher | first1 = J.S. | last2 = Pickering | first2 = J. | url = https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Halictidae }} {{refend}}

==External links== {{refbegin|}} * {{Commons category-inline}} {{refend}}

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angelicus Category:Articles created by Qbugbot Category:Insects described in 1924 Category:Taxa named by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell

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