Emerald Carpenter Bee

Description:

Ceratina smaragdula (Fabricius, 1787), of family Apidae, subfamily Xylocopinae, tribe Ceratinini, subgenus Pithitis. This is a small green carpenter bee, about 9-10mm in size, aptly called Dwarf Carpenter Bee, or Small Carpenter Bee. Ceratina Latreille, 1802 are commonly dark, shining, even metallic bees, with fairly sparse body hairs and a weak scopa on the hind tibia. Most species have some yellow markings, most often restricted to the face, but often elsewhere on the body. They are very commonly mistaken for "sweat bees" (family Halictidae), due to their small size, metallic coloration, and some similarity in wing venation; they can be easily separated from halictids by the mouthparts (with a long glossa) and the hindwings (with a tiny jugal lobe). A few species are exceptional among bees in that they are parthenogenetic, reproducing without males. (Wikipedia)

Habitat:

Backyard adjacent to an open space. It was spotted nectaring on a yellow purslane (Portulaca oleracea).

Notes:

Similar spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/312... Reference: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/docum... http://www.cirrusimage.com/bees_small_ca... http://taibnet.sinica.edu.tw/chi/taibnet...