Melecta

Latreille, 1802

Mourning Bees, Cuckoo Bees

Melecta is a of kleptoparasitic (cuckoo) in the , commonly known as mourning bees. The genus contains at least 50 described . Females are that enter bee nests to lay , with their consuming the pollen and nectar provisions intended for the host's offspring.

Melecta (Nesomelecta) haitensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Melecta interrupta var. rociadensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Melecta interrupta var. rociadensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Melecta: /mɛˈlɛkta/

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Identification

Melecta are generally , hairy that resemble their in the Anthophora. They lack the pollen-carrying (brushes) on the hind legs that are present in non-parasitic bees, as they do not collect pollen for their own offspring. This absence of scopal hairs is a diagnostic feature distinguishing cleptoparasitic bees from pollen- relatives.

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Distribution

The has been recorded in North America (including Colorado), Europe (Denmark, Sweden), and Asia (Republic of Korea). Specific distribution varies by .

Host Associations

  • Anthophora pacifica - Melecta pacifica fulvida is a of this

Behavior

Females exhibit cleptoparasitic : they enter the burrows of (particularly Anthophora ) and in the provisioned by the host. The Melecta hatches and consumes the stored pollen and nectar, killing the host egg or larva in the .

Ecological Role

As , Melecta function as natural regulators of their species. They do not contribute directly to as do not collect pollen.

Similar Taxa

  • Anthophora of Melecta ; Melecta females resemble Anthophora in size and hairiness but lack pollen- structures on the hind legs
  • BombusMelecta is phylogenetically distant from despite some superficial similarities in , hairy appearance
  • Apis are distantly related to Melecta; molecular places Melecta closer to (Frieseomelitta) than to honey bees

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Sources and further reading