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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.
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.
They are important pollinators of many flowering plants.
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