All summer long I’ve caught tantalizing glimpses of brilliant metallic blue native bees zipping about our yard. I think they’re “sweat bees” (scientific name: Halictidae), but I’m not sure — they could also be Ceratina dupla, another native bee. I’ve never been able to catch an image of one, as they never stop long enough for me to get a good shot.

In July, however, right after a thunderstorm, I found this one. It hadn’t found a safe harbor, and perished in the storm.

Metallic blue bee

Isn’t its color amazing?