Nomad Bees

Nomada

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada: //noˈma.da//

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

Images

Nomada (Gnathias) rubrella by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Nomada (Gnathias) rubrella by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Nomada (Micronomada) uhleri by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Nomada (Nomada) ceanothi by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Nomada calloptera by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Nomada (Nomada) tintinnabulum by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Nomada is a genus of cuckoo bees and one of the largest genera in the family Apidae. They are cleptoparasitic, primarily preying on ground-nesting bees like Andrena. Nomada exhibit distinct morphological traits that facilitate their parasitic behavior, including the ability to mimic the scents of their host species.

Physical Characteristics

Most Nomada species are small or medium in size, often exhibiting wasp-like appearance with prevalent red, black, and yellow colors. They may also have smoky wings. Females have specialized hair patches at the tip of their abdomen, while males have a conspicuous pygidial plate, often notched.

Identification Tips

Females are identifiable by the absence of a pollen-carrying scopa, reduced body hair, thick exoskeleton, and distinct mandibles. Males can be identified by their notched pygidial plate. The patch of silvery setae at the tip of the female metasoma and details of the wing venation are crucial for species identification.

Habitat

Nomada species inhabit areas where their ground-nesting bee hosts are found, often in open habitats with nearby floral resources, correlating with the nesting season of their hosts.

Distribution

Nomada are found worldwide, with a significant presence in North America and diverse habitats across different regions.

Diet

Nomada adult bees do not collect pollen and primarily feed on nectar from various flowers, which makes them considered poor pollinators due to the lack of a scopa and general behavior.

Life Cycle

Nomada reproduce through a holometabolous life cycle comprising four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females lay their eggs in the nests of host bees, where the larvae kill the host's offspring and consume the stored food before pupating and emerging the following season.

Reproduction

Female Nomada oviposit in host nests before closure by the host female, with the potential to lay 1-2 eggs per host cell. Nomada sometimes bury their eggs or leave multiple eggs in one host cell, typical of kleptoparasitic behavior.

Ecosystem Role

Nomada serve as cleptoparasites, negatively impacting the populations of their host bees, primarily Andrena and other ground-nesting species.

Evolution

The genus Nomada is one of the largest in the family Apidae and reflects significant evolutionary adaptation through parasitism, with each species often being host-specific.

Misconceptions

Nomada bees are often mistaken for social bees due to their appearance, but they lack the social structure and behaviors characteristic of such species, functioning instead as solitary parasites.

Tags

  • Nomad Bees
  • Cuckoo Bees
  • Parasitic Behavior
  • Bee Conservation