[2][3][4][5] Species of the genus Augochloropsis are generally between 8 and 12 mm long and metallic, typically bright green or blue in color, with some exceptions such as gold, red, or purple.

An excavated nest of A. metallica in Michigan led to the discovery of two female nest-mates with different levels of ovarian development that were determined not to be due simply to the age of the individuals.

Augochloropsis are classified as polylectic,[14] a term which indicates that these species are broad generalists that collect pollen from multiple families of plants.

[15] Certain life history traits of bees are actually known to predict polylecty, including social lifestyles, long windows of adult activity, and producing more than two generations of offspring a year.

Another species, Augochloropsis iris, which is native to South America, is primitively eusocial, and engages in three rounds of brood production over the course of a year, which correspond to the traits listed above that often promote wider diet breadth.

[6] Additionally, Augochloropsis anonyma has been recorded in association with Baccharis, Bidens, Cirsium, Erigeron, Helenium, Ilex, Linaria, Melilotus, Metopium, Ocimum, Polygonurn, Pycnanthemum, Rhus, Rubus and Trifolium.

[6] Augochloropsis sumptuosa has been associated with Asclepias, Berlandiera, Bidens, Clethra, Crataegus, Eriogonum, Eryngium, Helianthus, Melilotus, Silphium, Stachys and Vaccinium.

[6] Floral records common between the two subspecies of A. metallica include Aster, Chrysanthemum, Cornus, Eryngium, Geranium, Ilex, Rhus, Rubus, and Solidago.