Metallic green sweat bees are a member of the genus Agapostemon. There are over 45 species of these green bees in North America. Unlike honey bees and bumble bees most of the green bees are solitary nesters, nesting in borrows that they dig under ground. Even in species of green bees that do nest communally usually each female typically builds her own nest cell. Since most green bees are not very aggressive and do not sting very hard they are usually not considered pest species. In fact, since they tend to be floral generalists, they visit a wide variety of flowers, they are usually considered a beneficial species. They collect pollen, which they bring back to their nest, by use of a series of brush like hairs, called scopa, on their hind legs.