Golden Sweat Bee

Augochlorella aurata

They are called sweat bees because they are attracted to human perspiration, which they lap up to obtain essential salts and minerals.

Scientific name: Augochlorella aurata
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Halictidae › Augochlorella
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Meadows, fields, gardens, forest edges, and urban parks.
Diet: Nectar and pollen from a wide variety of wildflowers, especially Asteraceae.
Range: North America, United States, Canada, Central America
Size: 5 to 7 mm in length.
Lifespan: Several months for workers; up to one year for overwintering queens.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Pesticide use, habitat fragmentation, and the decline of native wildflower populations.
Safe to approach?: Harmless and non-aggressive. Females can sting if trapped or pressed against the skin, but the sting is very mild (like a tiny spark). Observe from any distance. If stung, wash the area with soap and water; apply ice if minor swelling occurs.

Augochlorella aurata is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae.

Photo: Owen Strickland, CC-BY, via iNaturalist