Color My World

I do believe that this colorful bee is an Augochlora Green Metallic Bee. Here's how my Audubon Guide to Florida describes it:

"These bees often can be seen visiting flowers, actively crawling among stamens to reach the nectar. Returning bees carry impressive pollen loads on their hind legs as they enter the portal of the underground nest. The solitary Pura Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura), 1/4" (8mm), occurs from Quebec to Minnesota, south to Texas, and east to Maine and Florida, in woodlands, parks, and gardens. Adults are found under bark, and females also visit many species of flowers as they collect pollen. They nest in soft, rotting, dead wood or inside preexisting tunnels of wood-boring insects. Females supply cells at the tunnel end with a pollen ball and nectar as food for larvae.

Life Cycle: Female digs nest of many branching burrows in dead wood or uses pre-existing burrows of other insects. Female supplies each cell with pollen ball and nectar, and lays an egg on each ball. Larvae or pupae overwinter. Adults emerge in spring."

This is just one of the many varieties of flying things that enjoy the Cosmos, Blanket Flowers and other flowering plants growing in my yard. Sometimes on a very still day you can hear a 'collective buzzing' as they go about their pollen gathering duties.