Epeolus pusillus

Cresson, 1864

Dwarf Cellophane-cuckoo Bee

Epeolus pusillus is a cleptoparasitic cuckoo bee in the Apidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. The is a specialized nest of two cellophane bee species in the Colletes: C. compactus and C. ciliatoides. As a cuckoo bee, females lay in nests where their larvae kill the host egg or larva and consume the pollen provisions. The species is known from the United States and Mexico.

Epeolus pusillus by (c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Catherine C. Galley. Used under a CC-BY license.

Epeolus (10.3897-zookeys.755.23939) Figure 98 by Onuferko TM (2018) A revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille for Nearctic species, north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Apidae). ZooKeys 755: 1-185. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.755.23939. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Epeolus pusillus: //ɛˈpiː.ələs pjuːˈsɪl.əs//

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Identification

Epeolus are generally distinguished from other cuckoo bees by their relatively sparse, short, unbranched or weakly branched body hairs that form distinct color patterns of black, white, red, and yellow. Unlike pollen-collecting bees, they lack the dense hairs used for pollen transport. Specific diagnostic features for E. pusillus relative to other Epeolus species are not documented in available sources.

Images

Distribution

United States and Mexico. Distribution records from GBIF also indicate presence in Middle America (Central America).

Diet

feed on nectar. Larvae consume pollen and nectar provisions stored by bees (Colletes compactus and Colletes ciliatoides).

Host Associations

Colletes compactus - nest primary ; larvae kill host /larva and consume provisions
Colletes ciliatoides - nest primary ; larvae kill host /larva and consume provisions

Life Cycle

Cleptoparasitic development: females lay in nests; larvae hatch and kill the host egg or larva, then feed on the pollen and nectar provisions collected by the host female. emerge from host nests.

Behavior

Females are known to enter nests of Colletes to deposit . As with other Epeolus species, females likely use olfactory cues to locate host nests, potentially detecting floral oils associated with host foraging.

Ecological Role

As a , E. pusillus functions as a regulator of its . The species is part of a specialized ecological interaction involving cellophane bees and their floral resources.

Similar Taxa

Other Epeolus speciesshare cleptoparasitic lifestyle and general ; distinguished by specific color patterns, hair , and associations
Nomada speciesalso cleptoparasitic bees in Apidae but belong to different tribe (Nomadini); typically have more -like appearance with different abdominal color patterns
Epeolus attenboroughicongeneric cuckoo bee described from Colorado and New Mexico; distinguished by specific color pattern differences and geographic range

More Details

Nomenclature

The name 'Epeolus' is thought to be a diminutive of Epeus/Epeius from Greek mythology, the soldier credited with the Trojan Horse—possibly alluding to the deceptive, infiltrating nature of these cleptoparasitic bees.

Conservation status

Not assessed; like many cuckoo bees, likely underrecorded due to rarity relative to and small size (most Epeolus range 5.5–10.0 mm).