Epeolus americanus

(Cresson, 1878)

American Cellophane-cuckoo Bee

Epeolus americanus is a cleptoparasitic (cuckoo bee) in the Apidae. It was newly confirmed in 2020 to parasitize the solitary bee Colletes consors mesocopus, with the first instar larva described for the first time. The belongs to a of bees that invade nests of polyester bees (genus Colletes) and lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen-collecting bees.

Epeolus americanus by (c) Syd Cannings, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Syd Cannings. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Epeolus americanus: /ɛˈpiːoʊləs əˌmɛrɪˈkeɪnəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Clay pit in Meadow Creek, British Columbia, where nests were located in 2020. The specific requirements reflect those of its host , which nests in clay soil substrates.

Distribution

North America; confirmed present in British Columbia, Canada. Distribution records indicate presence across North America, though specific locality data is sparse.

Seasonality

Females observed entering nests in June 2020. Activity timing corresponds with host nesting period.

Host Associations

Colletes consors mesocopus - Confirmed association documented June 2020 at Meadow Creek, British Columbia. Females observed entering host nests; first instar larvae found in host , with one specimen barcoded to confirm identity.

Life Cycle

First instar larvae develop within . The first instar has been described and imaged based on four specimens unearthed from host cells. Cleptoparasitic development involves the larval stage consuming provisions stored by the host female.

Behavior

Females exhibit nest-seeking , entering nests to lay . This behavior was directly observed in June 2020.

Ecological Role

of solitary bees. As a cuckoo bee, it functions as a natural control on its , though at lower population densities than hosts due to -prey dynamics.

Similar Taxa

Other Epeolus speciesShares cleptoparasitic lifestyle and general with ; distinguished by specific associations and subtle morphological features not detailed in available sources.
Epeolus attenboroughiRecently described congeneric cuckoo bee from Colorado and New Mexico; both parasitize Colletes but occupy different geographic ranges.

More Details

First instar description

The first instar of E. americanus was described for the first time in 2020 based on four specimens recovered from . This represents a significant contribution as larval stages of cleptoparasitic bees are often poorly known.

Host nest architecture

Observations of the nest structure and contents were documented and compared with studies of other Colletes and Epeolus , contributing to understanding of this host- system.