Nomada bethunei

Cockerell, 1903

Bethune's Cuckoo Nomad Bee

Nomada bethunei is a of kleptoparasitic in the , first described by Cockerell in 1903. As a member of the Nomada, it is an obligate nest that lays in the nests of species, primarily Andrena mining bees. The species is found in North America, with records from Vermont and other regions. Like other Nomada species, it lacks the branched body hairs typical of pollen- bees and instead relies on host bees to provision its offspring.

Nomada bethunei by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nomada bethunei: /nəʊˈmɑːdə bɛˈθjuːnaɪ/

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Distribution

North America; specifically recorded from Vermont, United States. The ' broader range within North America remains poorly documented.

Host Associations

Andrena - KleptoparasitismBased on -level biology; Nomada are obligate of Andrena mining , though the specific (s) of N. bethunei have not been confirmed.

Ecological Role

of ground-nesting . As a , it contributes to of its and may influence nest site dynamics in bee .

Similar Taxa

Other Nomada speciesMembers of the Nomada share kleptoparasitic lifestyle, -like appearance due to reduced body hair, and similar size range (typically 5–15 mm). Identification to level requires examination of subtle morphological characters including color pattern, antennal structure, and male .
Andrena host speciesFemale Nomada may be confused with their Andrena due to chemical ; males produce compounds identical to host odors, and females may enter host nests undetected.

More Details

Taxonomic history

Described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1903. The epithet 'bethunei' likely honors a person, though the specific honoree is not documented in available sources.

Data deficiency

Despite being described over a century ago, N. bethunei remains poorly known with minimal published biological information beyond original description and basic distribution records. This reflects a broader pattern of underdocumentation for many North Nomada .