Euglossa cordata is a primitively eusocial orchid bee of the American tropics. The species is known for its green body color and ability to fly distances of over 50 km. Males mostly disperse and leave their home nests, while females have been observed to possess philopatric behavior. Because of this, sightings are rare and little is known about the species. However, it has been observed that adults who pollinate certain species of orchids will become intoxicated during the pollination.

Euglossa cordata is a member of the genus Euglossa in the tribe Euglossini within subfamily Apinae of the hymenopteran family Apidae. Euglossini pollinate throughout the American tropics, and are known for their bright, metallic appearance. Euglossini is one of four tribes of the family Apinae, along with Meliponini (stingless bees), Bombini (bumble bees), and Apini (honey bees). There are five genera of Euglossini: Aglae, Exaerete, Eufriesa, Eulaema, and Euglossa.

Euglossa cordata is a small short-tongued species. Females possess claws with a basal tooth, while males have a similar or cleft claw with absent arolia (adhesive pads) in both. Unlike bees of the tribe Bombini, female mandibles have strong apical teeth. Male genitalia are extremely sclerotized with a distinct gonobase and small to moderately sized upper gonostylus. Larvae have small and pointed dorsolateral tubercles (a bone projection) on the thoracic and upper abdominal segment with two similarly shaped tubercles on the vertex. Among the genera of Euglossini, Euglossa are known to be especially metallic and glittery and smaller in body size, and E. cordata are no exception, as individuals are observed to be a brilliant green color.

Euglossa cordata have an exclusive neotropical distribution and are spread out throughout the South American region, particularly in Brazil. They reside in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures, in which nests have been found in urban areas, such as parks and gardens, where the bees are able to form nests and gather pollen and nectar. These areas have been colonized recently as many natural habitats have been destroyed or severely damaged. Adults have been observed to fly great distances, sometimes more than 50 km, for nectar or floral odors used for sexual attraction. This leads to a dispersal of the species, which prevents inbred mating. Nests are constructed and lined with resin.

A single female primarily starts a nest, and around 50% of the daughters of the next generation will remain with their mother in the nest, establishing a hierarchy with one dominant female and one to several subordinate females. Thus, there is no need for worker or queen bees in an independently moving species. Egglaying females remain in the nest for an average of 191 days; the longest observed duration for a foraging female was 53 days. Multi-female nests may exist due to nest reactivation by females of different generations, frequently as mother-daughter nests.

Euglossa cordata are of the genus Euglossa, whose species are solitary. In contrast to species such as Euglossa annectans and Euglossa hyancinthina, which are communal species, E. cordata have semi-social and eusocial organization, and display primitively eusocial behavior.

Euglossa cordata uses resin to seal cracks and joints, and to seal the entrance hole inside the nest. To leave the nest, an individual creates a small round hole in the resin, big enough for one to pass through. The hole is never sealed when leaving the nest, even when leaving for the last time, but sealed many times during the day while working inside the nest, as well as in the evening. Before a new cell is made, the current cell is provisioned and sealed.

Euglossa cordata are attracted to orchids mostly through odor. When visiting a euglossine flower, the pads of hair on their forefeet will brush on the surface of the flower for a short time. They will then hover near the flower and scrub their legs together, which then deposits some substance, whether it be pollen or nectar, in their inflated hind tibiae. This behavior is repeated many times, sometimes as long as 90 minutes in one visit. It has been suggested that the individuals will become intoxicated during these visits to the orchid flowers.