A large group of insects in the Superfamily Apoidea are commonly known as bees. They are specialized for gathering nectar and pollen from flowering plants. There are more than 3,500 species of bees in North America, about 500 of which form the family Halictidae.

Agapostemon splendens

In many species, the tongue is long and pointed, adapted for probing into flowers. All bees are covered with hair, to which pollen sticks when flowers are visited; most female bees have apparatus for gathering this pollen; it is combed into a special basket or brush located on the hind legs. Males do not collect pollen and lack these structures. There are a few species, especially the parasitic bees, that have no pollen baskets.

Most bees are solitary -- each female constructing a nesting tunnel underground or in plant materials. She stocks the brood cells with pollen and nectar for the larvae to eat after hatching. Honey bees and bumblebees, however, are social insects -- They live in colonies consisting of a fertile queen, sterile female worker bees, and male bees (drones). These are the only bees known to produce honey, and they are the only bees which will sting readily in defense of their colonies.

Bees in the Family Halictidae are commonly known as Halictid, or sweat bees. It is said they are attracted to perspiration, but I've never noticed this predilection. They are generally small bees, often brightly metallic colored. They nest underground, with the gregarious bees sharing a common gallery with a single entrance.

This Halictid bee is cooling itself by continually regurgitating liquid, then reswallowing it.
Click on the image to view a Quicktime movie showing the process. (5.3 Mb).

All bees are covered with plumose hair.