Genus Agapostemon (Sweat Bee) on Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

The bees have been so attracted to the Gaillardia/Blanket Flowers, that I picked up a couple more at IFA a while ago – and have been waiting for them to bloom. They’ve started up – taller than the ones from last year that you’ve seen lots of. Yesterday, I caught a Sweat Bee (gen. Agapostemon) on one of the new blossoms. Magnificent looking critters. I tried to determine the species, but that confused me and seems beyond my skill level. Ideas?

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