Melectini

Distinguished from Nomadinae (other cuckoo bees) by wing venation: marginal cell shorter than first two submarginal cells, and extremely short second abscissa of vein M+Cu causing near-adjacent cells. Distinguished from host Anthophorini by absence of scopae, basitibial plates, and prepygidial fimbria in females. Small jugal lobes (less than half vannal lobe length) also characteristic.

Medium to large bees with short body hair that lies flat against the exoskeleton on the abdomen. Females lack scopae (pollen-collecting hairs on hind legs), basitibial plates, and prepygidial fimbria. Wing venation is distinctive: the marginal cell is shorter than the first two submarginal cells; the second abscissa of vein M+Cu is extremely short, with connected cells nearly adjacent. Jugal lobes are very small, less than half the length of vannal lobes.

Associated with open habitats including prairie landscapes; occurrence tied to presence of host Anthophorini nesting sites. Specific microhabitat requirements not documented.

Essentially worldwide distribution. Genera show regional patterns: Melecta in Palearctic and Nearctic; Thyreus widespread in Old World tropics and subtropics; Afromelecta in Africa; Sinomelecta in East Asia.

Adults occasionally visit flowers; larvae are cleptoparasitic, consuming host provisions.

• Anthophorini - brood parasitePrimary hosts; females deposit eggs in host nests

Cleptoparasitic: females lay eggs in nests of host Anthophorini. Larvae develop by consuming host provisions and typically kill host immatures. Mature larvae described as robust with reduced body tubercles compared to Anthophorini.

Cleptoparasitic brood parasitism of ground-nesting Anthophorini. Females locate host nests and deposit eggs; no nest construction or pollen collection by females. Adults occasionally observed visiting flowers, possibly for nectar.

Cleptoparasites that regulate populations of host digger bees. Flower visitation by adults may contribute to pollination, though this has not been quantified.

No documented economic importance. Occasionally observed in prairie and open habitat bee surveys. Not known to be aggressive; lacks stinging behavior documentation.

• NomadinaeAlso cleptoparasitic bees with reduced hair, but distinguished by wing venation: Melectini have marginal cell shorter than first two submarginal cells and abbreviated second abscissa of M+Cu
• AnthophoriniHosts that Melectini parasitize; distinguished by presence of scopae, basitibial plates, and prepygidial fimbria in females, and different wing venation

• cleptoparasite
• brood parasite
• Apidae
• cuckoo bee
• Anthophorini host

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Cleptoparasitic Behavior and Immatures of the BeeMelecta duodecimmaculata(Apoidea: Apidae: Melectini) Appendix: Tribal Descriptions of the Anthophorini and Melectini Based on their Mature Larvae