Nomadinae

Definition

A subfamily of bees (family Apidae) comprising the cuckoo bees, which are obligate kleptoparasites of other bees. Females lack pollen-collecting structures and do not construct nests; instead, they deposit eggs in the nests of host bees, typically solitary ground-nesting genera such as Andrena and Melitta, where their larvae consume the host's pollen provisions.

Etymology

From Latin nomas, nomadis (wanderer, nomad), alluding to their non-nest-building, wandering lifestyle.

Example

Nomada, the largest genus in Nomadinae, includes over 800 species that parasitize Andrenidae and other Apidae, often mimicking the appearance and scent of their specific hosts to evade detection at nest entrances.

Synonyms

• cuckoo bees (common name)

Related Terms

• kleptoparasitism
• Apidae
• Andrenidae
• Nomada
• social parasitism
• cleptoparasite

Usage Notes

The term refers to the subfamily rank; individual species are properly called 'nomadine bees' or 'cuckoo bees.' Nomadinae is sometimes treated as a tribe (Nomadini) within Apinae in alternative classifications. The common name 'cuckoo bee' is also applied to some non-apid kleptoparasitic bees (e.g., some Osmia), so context matters.