Virescent green metallic bee

These solitary bees are not aggressive, but the females may sting if they feel trapped.

Sweat bees sometimes adopt gregarious behaviour, and females may share a nest. A study by Dr. Eickwort in 1980 in New York State found several nests in close proximity, dug in lawns and gardens. Some of the nests held up to 30 adult females, which often switched from one burrow to another. The observers reported a partial division of tasks, particularly in foraging and guarding the nest. The burrows were up to 42 cm long and the largest ones had branches. The cells were made at the end of long tunnels, and filled with soil once the eggs had hatched.

In addition to sweat bees, three other species belonging to genus Agapostemon are found in Quebec: A. sericeus, A. splendens and A. texanus. The females of these species all have metallic green abdomens.