Zacosmia maculata
(Cresson, 1879)
Spotted Mini-digger-Cuckoo
Zacosmia maculata is a of kleptoparasitic in the Apidae, tribe Melectini. As a cuckoo bee, females do not construct nests or collect pollen; instead, they lay in the nests of bees, primarily species of Hesperapis. The species occurs in western North America and parts of Middle America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Zacosmia maculata: /zaˈkɔz.mi.a maˈku.la.ta/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Western North America and Middle America. GBIF records indicate presence in both regions.
Host Associations
- Hesperapis - kleptoparasitePrimary for this cuckoo bee
Ecological Role
Kleptoparasite (cuckoo bee) that exploits nest provisions of bees, potentially affecting host .
Similar Taxa
- MelectaBoth are cuckoo bees in tribe Melectini with similar kleptoparasitic ; Zacosmia is distinguished by its smaller size and more western distribution.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
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