About Euglossa dilemma Bembé & Eltz, 2011
Green orchid bees (Euglossa dilemma) have bodies in varying shades of glossy metallic green, and reach about 1.3 cm (0.5 in) in length. Their membranous wings are dark-colored and translucent; females have pollen baskets on their hind legs, while males have an enlarged joint on the hind leg with a pit to store substances collected from plants. Only females have a sting, which can be used multiple times, and is less painful to humans than the sting of a honeybee. This species is very agile in flight, able to hover for long periods and dart between flowers. It can be mistaken for sweat bees in the family Halictidae, such as the genus Augochloropsis, but orchid bees have much longer proboscises that let them gather nectar from flowers with long corolla tubes. The native range of Euglossa dilemma spans Central America, from Costa Rica to Mexico. It is thought to have accidentally been introduced from Mexico to Florida, likely transported as a nest inside a wooden structure like a pallet. It was first recorded in Broward County in 2003, and has since established populations in Palm Beach County and Brevard County; it is expected to expand its range to most of the southern half of Florida. In its native Mexico, this bee occurs in hot dry habitats, including degraded forests, pastures, parks, and gardens. Compared to most other euglossine bees, it is less dependent on primary forest habitats.
